We are preparing for term 2 by switching our desks around and we are also making sure everything is finished. We are all looking forward to the holidays.Lookin' foward to term 2 aswell.
By Poppy
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
SCIENCE FAIR
No doubt you will have heard about the ‘Science Fair.’ It is a school wide event that has been happening at Balmacewen Intermediate for a number of years now. We are always very successful and a number of students go on to be very successful at the Otago Science and Technology fair each year. It is a great opportunity for students to undertake and inquiry of their own choice.
WHO: All Balmacewen Intermediate students will individually complete a science fair project guided through the process by their classroom teacher
WHEN: The Science and Technology fair takes place over the course of Term Two. All students complete a project which is due into their classroom teacher for presentation in Week 10, Monday 21st June.
From here all projects will be exhibited in the hall later that week and judged. The best entries will be selected to represent Balmacewen at the Otago Science and Technology fair.
WHERE: Students will carry out science investigations and learn how to put their project together, create graphs and procedural writing techniques in class. They will get some class time to work on their projects and the rest will be made up of homework time for the term.
WHAT IS A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?
A science fair project can be an invention, investigation or experimental research. There has also been a change that includes aspects of ICT use as part of an investigation – developing a new programme, animation techniques, Robotics etc.
TIMELINE GUIDELINES
HOLIDAYS – WEEK 1: It will start with a big question, idea or aim that the student wants to explore. For example: ‘How can I keep the fizz in my fizzy for longer?’ ’ ‘How can I make myself safe on my skateboard coming to school in the mornings?’
WEEKS 1-3: Next the students will need to research and gather background information around this big idea.
They will use this information to make a hypothesis or (in the case of an invention) come up with a prototype or plan.
WEEKS 3 – 7: From here the students need to come up with a plan for how they are going to carry out their experiment, invention or investigation. They need to remember to use a fair test, think about what they are changing and measuring and repeat their testing at least three times for accuracy. (This will be explained fully at school by their classroom teacher)
The students carry this plan out over the next few weeks and keep a log book and take photos of the process along the way.
WEEK 8: Next the students put together their results. They may use graphs, tables or written observations.
WEEK 8-10: They then summarise their results, making reference to their hypothesis.
They will be given details and explanations at school as to how they must present their inquiry onto a display board. Samples of previous projects will be on display in the library and parents are also welcome to come in and look at these for ideas. (Pictures of these may also be on some class blog pages.) The display boards are available from the school library for $10. The rest of the information goes into their log book/clear file which will be kept with the display board for the judge’s reference.
The GUIDELINES used here are approximate and may change slightly.
We will have a lot of discussion and sharing of ideas in class and there will be notices coming home with additional information. But this gives you a basic run down to help you get your head around it all. If you have further questions please feel free to get in touch with me.
WHO: All Balmacewen Intermediate students will individually complete a science fair project guided through the process by their classroom teacher
WHEN: The Science and Technology fair takes place over the course of Term Two. All students complete a project which is due into their classroom teacher for presentation in Week 10, Monday 21st June.
From here all projects will be exhibited in the hall later that week and judged. The best entries will be selected to represent Balmacewen at the Otago Science and Technology fair.
WHERE: Students will carry out science investigations and learn how to put their project together, create graphs and procedural writing techniques in class. They will get some class time to work on their projects and the rest will be made up of homework time for the term.
WHAT IS A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT?
A science fair project can be an invention, investigation or experimental research. There has also been a change that includes aspects of ICT use as part of an investigation – developing a new programme, animation techniques, Robotics etc.
TIMELINE GUIDELINES
HOLIDAYS – WEEK 1: It will start with a big question, idea or aim that the student wants to explore. For example: ‘How can I keep the fizz in my fizzy for longer?’ ’ ‘How can I make myself safe on my skateboard coming to school in the mornings?’
WEEKS 1-3: Next the students will need to research and gather background information around this big idea.
They will use this information to make a hypothesis or (in the case of an invention) come up with a prototype or plan.
WEEKS 3 – 7: From here the students need to come up with a plan for how they are going to carry out their experiment, invention or investigation. They need to remember to use a fair test, think about what they are changing and measuring and repeat their testing at least three times for accuracy. (This will be explained fully at school by their classroom teacher)
The students carry this plan out over the next few weeks and keep a log book and take photos of the process along the way.
WEEK 8: Next the students put together their results. They may use graphs, tables or written observations.
WEEK 8-10: They then summarise their results, making reference to their hypothesis.
They will be given details and explanations at school as to how they must present their inquiry onto a display board. Samples of previous projects will be on display in the library and parents are also welcome to come in and look at these for ideas. (Pictures of these may also be on some class blog pages.) The display boards are available from the school library for $10. The rest of the information goes into their log book/clear file which will be kept with the display board for the judge’s reference.
The GUIDELINES used here are approximate and may change slightly.
We will have a lot of discussion and sharing of ideas in class and there will be notices coming home with additional information. But this gives you a basic run down to help you get your head around it all. If you have further questions please feel free to get in touch with me.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Putting it all together ....
By now you all have had at least three 1:1 conferences with me regarding your ASPIRE....I hope you have all completed your interview and are in the stage of summarizing your information....
For example, imagine I interviewed my Grandma about "What changes did you see in toys over time ", from the interview answers and research I completed I will write a summary about what I found out and it would look something like this....
My Grandma remembers her first toy was made of wood and string, she received it in her Christmas stocking from Santa who she now realizes was of course her Mother and Father. She told me she cherished it for many many years until her brother Cedric smashed it in anger when he was 7. She apparently cried for days.
Grandma recalls buying a wooden spinning top for my Mother for her 6th birthday and she noticed that comparing the two toys, Mothers had a nib of plastic on it. Grandma thought back to her toys of her childhood and plastic was rarely on toys. I found out that plastic toys were not common until the late 1940s and since Grandma was a child in the 1930s, this will explain why.
And so on....
Remember.......you must ask if you are not sure!!!
For example, imagine I interviewed my Grandma about "What changes did you see in toys over time ", from the interview answers and research I completed I will write a summary about what I found out and it would look something like this....
My Grandma remembers her first toy was made of wood and string, she received it in her Christmas stocking from Santa who she now realizes was of course her Mother and Father. She told me she cherished it for many many years until her brother Cedric smashed it in anger when he was 7. She apparently cried for days.
Grandma recalls buying a wooden spinning top for my Mother for her 6th birthday and she noticed that comparing the two toys, Mothers had a nib of plastic on it. Grandma thought back to her toys of her childhood and plastic was rarely on toys. I found out that plastic toys were not common until the late 1940s and since Grandma was a child in the 1930s, this will explain why.
And so on....
Remember.......you must ask if you are not sure!!!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
That time of year is coming.....
SCIENCE FAIR TIME!
Who has heard of a Science & technology fair before? If you have had siblings go through the school before you, then you most certainly will have seen the process that they have gone through.
We will teach you how to complete a Science & Technology project next term, but what YOU need to do over the Easter break is to come up with an IDEA! Often the hardest part...so you need to think about what you are INTERESTED in & what you want to find out...
Have a look at the slideshow below to begin your thought process & even do a google search to get you going!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
How are we shaped by our past?
Our focus for the next few weeks is looking at the ASPIRE model & the Inquiry process to answer our big question "How are we shaped by our past" ...you will need to be thinking about who you can interview to help you answer these questions, how about a Grandparent, or older neighbour or a work colleague of mum or dad?
You have all brain stormed some awesome questions about what you want to find out, but don't forget you need to have one BIG question that directs your learning and your thinking...
Over the next few weeks you should be bringing your log book to and from school each day so I can see where you are heading & so I can give you advice on where to head next... please post a comment with your BIG question and what it is you are wanting to find out!
Ms D
You have all brain stormed some awesome questions about what you want to find out, but don't forget you need to have one BIG question that directs your learning and your thinking...
Over the next few weeks you should be bringing your log book to and from school each day so I can see where you are heading & so I can give you advice on where to head next... please post a comment with your BIG question and what it is you are wanting to find out!
Ms D
Saturday, March 13, 2010
computer glich!
Not sure why I cannot load photos into photobucket ....so for the mean time I will not be able to do a slideshow of camp photos but I will just put them up individually.
Remember I am not at school tomorrow, but will certainly be back on Tuesday.
See you then
Ms D
Remember I am not at school tomorrow, but will certainly be back on Tuesday.
See you then
Ms D
Thursday, March 11, 2010
camp photos...
I hope you all recovered from the awesome camp! Room 7 children were amazing & I was so super proud of them. I will upload a slide-show of photos over the weekend!
We have had a huge week with German, golf, final swimsation session as well as some fantastic lessons going on, which is of course of most importance!
Next week we have our 10 minute parent interview, please remind your folks to be on time and you should come along too, can anyone think of a reason why it is important for you to come?
Also, swimming sports are next Friday, please remember to get dropped off at the pool & not school!
Ms D
We have had a huge week with German, golf, final swimsation session as well as some fantastic lessons going on, which is of course of most importance!
Next week we have our 10 minute parent interview, please remind your folks to be on time and you should come along too, can anyone think of a reason why it is important for you to come?
Also, swimming sports are next Friday, please remember to get dropped off at the pool & not school!
Ms D
Monday, March 1, 2010
busy children!
Who can tell me the two Room 7 children in this photo?! Well done guys for your achievements over the weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)