More Random Science Fun! By Sophia and Eleanor

This term we went to the SFU Science Fair. They were making liquid nitrogen ice cream and also some fun buttons. There were lots of different exhibits about this kind of science, that kind of science, every kind of science!

The POWER OF MAGNETS they aligned atoms!

Sophia was making electricity by pedaling this bike.

Nori does a probability experiment.

Here we are look at a van de Graaff generator. More electricity fun!

Here is Eleanor sitting on a tractor at the Birchwood Dairy farms. There were cows there. Or as they say in Latin taxonomy terms, Bos taurus. Fun fact: every Holstein cow has a spot pattern on it as unique as a fingerprint.

Farmer Eleanor

Us looking at the calves in the maternity calf barn.

Us looking at a bunch of water flooding a cow pen. There was a lot of sewage!

Eleanor makes a sundial!

And Eleanor had a really good time learning about structures and forces with her roller coaster science book.

P.E., Fine Arts, (and lots of other related awesomeness) Term 3

If our activities in Term 3 had a theme this year, it would be: variety! We both have been swimming, doing inline skating classes (sorry no pictures)

hiking and beach combing

we also practised our engineering skills by building beach forts

...got to try kayaking for the first time!

Sophia is already signed up for another kayaking course this summer!

hone those Grade 5 science skills about "force" with some extreme high wind kite flying (ask Sophia to tell you about lift and gravity:)

monkey around, run, climb and play,

Skateboard,

this term we all got new bikes, and have been able to go riding together! Sophia and her Dad even did a tandem bike ride around Stanley Park!

Eleanor and Ittle went bowling, and we've signed up for the Kids Bowl Free program this summer!

Eleanor rocks some fine arts skills with paper jewellery for Ittle.

She's also done fabric painting and collage, designing and sewing a skirt, and drawing this term, Sophia has done with water colours, model building, sketching and drawing.

Sophia and Eleanor both spent a day at the art gallery with their godmother, who is an artist, studying works and sketching. Sophia has been particularly interested in studying the work of M.C. Escher this term.

Sophia and Eleanor both went to camp this term, and spent time hiking and studying nature, learning about mapping and orienteering, outdoor cooking and fire safety, and new songs and games,

These are the worksheets from Eleanor's "which way" badge, learning about reading maps, compass and directions.

Eleanor has over 20 badges now!

Sophia has obtained her "B active" card from the City Of Burnaby. It gives her free swimming and skating and access to many other free activities for her grade 5 year. She very much wanted to go swimming alone, so we planned her route and did the research on which bus stops she needed to take, and what she would do in an emergency.

She not only had a great time swimming, but navigated her way home beautifully, asking for help from staff at the pool and from local business people when she needed help to call home or figure out what to do. Way to go, Sophia!

Lego Travel Adventure: Part 1

We were so excited to discover that Science World would be opening a new exhibit Feb. 1 called Lego Travel Adventure. This exhibit was created by the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, IN and they had a whole unit study available on their website.

We've been meeting every Wed morning with our friends Keon and Levi to do the unit study together. http://www.childrensmuseum.org/travel-adventure-teachers

The first unit was called Travel By Land. We read the Dr Seuss story/poem called "Oh The Places You'll GO!". The children took turns guessing aloud how the sentences ended in the story, and then wrote paragraphs about if they could go any where, where they would go.

Sophia: If I could go anywhere, I would go to Italy or Hawaii. If I went to Hawaii, I would take my friends Elias and Mateo, I would bring a bathing suit and lots of sun screen. I would go snorkelling, and I would like to Waikiki to see the hula dancers. I would stay for 3 weeks.

Eleanor: If I could go anywhere, I would go to Paris, France to see the Eiffel tower. I would go for a year, I would take my Mum and my friends. I would pack berets and fancy dresses, a french language guide and a map.

We have already been studying maps this year, so we took time to review some map vocabulary and learned the difference between physical, political and other maps. The children then built Lego vehicles and using their new vocabulary and understanding of physical maps, "drove the maps" trying to consider what kind of terrain they would really be crossing and the kind of vehicles they would need.