In science we use the FOSS program, and in this unit we are focusing on Balance and Motion. First we are focusing on balance in the unit, and we are discovering what the word balance means, how to make things balance using counter-weights, and predicting whether something will balance based on our past experiences.
This week, we explored balancing two shapes - a triangle and an arch. We taped a popsicle stick to our desk like a little diving-board and tried to balance these two shapes on our popsicle sticks using two clothes pins as counter weights.
First, we simply explored the materials and got a sense of their abilities. Then we followed the scientific method:
- First, we asked a question: Will the shape balance?
- Next, we looked at 9 different situations and made a hypothesis for each about whether it would balance or not.
- Then, we experimented to see if we were correct or not for each of the 9 situations.
- Finally, we compared our hypothesis to the actual results and drew a conclusion about what had happened.
We will continue exploring balance during the month of November and begin focusing on Motion during the month of December.
