First Lab Practical

This week we took our first lab practical. Its a test, but not really a normal test.  Read student thoughts to find out more about what it is like to take a lab practical in science class.

The lab practical was definitely a different kind of test. I think while it was different than a normal test in the way it was more hands-on, I think the most beneficial part was having a partner. It's definitely more hands-on and engaging and requires deeper thinking. You collaborate with a partner which makes things more efficient and helpful towards choosing an answer. The lab practical was testing our skills on basic science skills such as measurement and using a microscope. We used lab equipment like beakers, graduated cylinders, and forceps and calculated temperature, pH, density, mass, volume, and identified different parts of a CER conclusion amongst other tasks."
- Jiwoong, Dhruv, Veda, Pranavi

Student Feature - First Six Weeks Challenges

Everyone did a great job on their first six weeks challenge but here are a few that were pretty outstanding!  All are shared with student permission, but take a moment to check out their challenges collection on their portfolio!

Anvitha

Wesley B.

Najwa

Om A.

Mystery Class

"Today we are doing a Skype with a class anywhere in the world! All we know is that they speak English, and that they are younger than us. We have to find out where they live. We were closing in on a their location as they were ours. There were strangely many controversial answers. They soon guessed our state. They began to close in closer and closer while we were stuck. They found our city when we didn't even have their state! We finally found the location, after many questions, of ALASKA. It was their game, by far. In the end, we had a quick little Q and A, about life in Texas and Alaska. We learned about Alaska, like how even kids dogsled. It was quite the experience."
- Sneha

Our Mystery Class Locations:
2nd Period - Melbourne, Australia
3rd Period - Iceland (we still aren't sure how to spell that city!)
4th Period - South Bend, Indiana
6th Period - Manhattan Beach, California
7th Period - Anchorage, Alaska

Thanks to our photographers for the great images!

Design a Lab

This week, we are going to be doing the Stomach vs Soda lab where we test a drink's impact on the stomach (we're using cow stomach for example). Our goal for the stomach lab is to find out whether Gatorade damages the stomach, and if so, how serious on a scale the problems it causes are. We believe that since Gatorade is ordinarily a fruity drink of sorts, it shouldn't be too harming to the stomach. We think either the Redbull or the Dr. Pepper will affect the stomach most negatively since, outwardly, they don't look entirely healthy.
- Jillian, Veda, and Caralyn

Results:

Observation vs. Inference

To understand the difference between observations and inferences, we went outside and used our Pro-scopes (supplied by our fabulous PTO!) to capture macro-images of nature and our surroundings.

Look at these amazing images they captured!

Measurement Lab

"Our goal was to lean about measurements, some types of measurements we learned about are mass, volume, density, temperature, inches, centimeters, and millimeters. At one station we measured how tall we were, at another we used mass and volume to find density, at the last one we found the temperature of different substances."
- Bethany and Kinley

"We went to different stations and learned about the metric system, density calculations, temperature, pH level, buoyancy test, and types of graphs. Our goal was to learn how to use many different types of measurement when we need it in the future. Also, other than being helpful, it put us in a good mood. At the metric system we measured our body parts and how some parts of our body are symmetric. Also, we learned how the metric system works. At the density station, we learned the formula of density and how to find the mass and volume of an object as well. We also liked the tools because they were unique. On the pH level it was very fun. The paper changed color according to the solution it was put in. We also learned about the three types of things in the scale which were acid, base, and neutral. At the temperature station, we put the thermometer in sand, dirt, and water. It was fun because it kept changing. At the buoyancy test station, we put rocks and water in a container and tried to make the container sink, float, and in the middle. It was very fun especially when we tried it in the middle. At the graphs we illustrated the graphs and learned what they were used for. We learned about the metric system, pH level, how to calculate density, how to record temperatures, how to make thing float or sink, and find what types of graphs did. At the end, we did a fun Kahoot!"
- Wesley, Naman, Yoichiro

"During the measurement lab we went to multiple stations to review and learn measurements for science. Our goal was to gain a little more knowledge about measurements in science such as the ph scale. We reviewed over multiple measurement in science such as temperature, ph or acidity, length and width, and mass and volume to get density. A new measurement that we learned is the ph scale how to measure the level of acidity."
Aidan, Landry, Hank, Neal

Challenge Winners: Anna, Peyton, Isaiah, and Harjas
[Make one float, one sink, and one suspend in the middle]