Mixing it Up

This semester, our science focus is on mixtures and solutions.  The scholars are very eager to put on their googles and mix it up.

When I say it's time for Science, they all put on their googles and get ready to work.  It's so cute how they "google up" even for note taking time.  I love their enthusiasm to learn new things.   Students have learned about filters and screens, solutions, saturated solutions, dissolving solids into liquids, crystallization, concentration and dilution, and evaporation.  

 

Happy Spring

Every few years, my family purchases baby chicks to replace older hens that have passed or stop laying eggs.  This was one of those years.  A month ago, I brought a few fuzzy beauties in for the students to hold and pet.  They were sure a bit hit.  For some of my students, this was the first time they ever held a chick.

Now, a month later, those cute fuzzy little chicks have grown into awkward gangly teen-chicks.  I can't bring them in because they will fly and mess all over.

A Day at the Zoo

Today we took our first field trip... to the Phoenix Zoo.  Thanks to Target Education Grants, we were able to go on an amazing trip.  We were able to feed and pet the stingrays too.  Students were broken into groups of 5-7 with excellent parent chaperones (many, many thanks parents!!).  They explored their favorite animals, learning first hand about different and new creatures.  We had a few firsts... Jason's first field trip and Kenia's first trip to the zoo.  A great day was had by all.

How to Make Candy Blood

Red blood cells, platelets, plasma.... how to make all this vocabulary come alive in an ELL class lesson about blood?  Every year I make candy blood.  Here are the ingredients.

I use an empty clean juice bottle, a big bottle of light corn syrup, several boxes of Red Hots, white jelly beans (the kids are happy to eat the other colors), and sprinkles (mine are leftover from Christmas).

Corn syrup = plasma
Red Hots = red blood cells
White jelly beans = white blood cells
Sprinkles = platelets

First, I add the plasma to the juice bottle.  The students watch the movement of the yellowish clearish liquid.  I add words like viscosity, movement, liquid.  I put the lid on and the students take turns moving the "plasma" around.

Then,  I add the red blood cells.  The students ooh and ah.  We discuss the role of the red blood cells and what they do in our blood - take oxygen to the cells and return carbon dioxide to the lungs.

Next, I add the white blood cells.  We note that they are larger and not as plentiful as the red ones and they are our soldiers - they fight infection.

Last, I add the platelets - they help the blog clot and scab.  The students realize they get mixed in really quickly.

I make sure the students all have a chance to move the blood around in the juice bottle.  They are very entranced with this demonstration.

Soon, the Red Hots have "lost their color" and the whole juice bottle is bright red.  The students can still see the red blood cells in the bright red mixture.  They can still see the jelly beans and sprinkles that have retained their size and shapes.

Please try this great demonstration in your class and leave us a comment about your successes.