Audrey Ward - Elementary Science Blog

Week 10: Layers of Earth, Convection Cells, and Plate Tectonics  1. What did you do in the lab today?  In the lab, we shared our videos in groups and discussed how convection cells work using multiple examples. We then talked about the layers of the Earth, including the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. For example, the Earth's layers are like a hard-boiled egg or an apple. Next, we conducted a lab activity to learn about the three different types of plate boundaries.  Divergent boundaries - When two plates are pulled apart.   We see more of the whipped cream(mantle) when the rice cakes get pulled apart.  Transform boundaries - When two plates slide past each other.  The whipped cream (mantle) is pushed in whatever direction the plate pushes it.  Convergent boundaries - Subduction: when 1 plate dives under another. The thinner one will go under the thicker one.  The Graham cracker (oceanic crust) went under the rice cake...

Week 9: Earthquakes and Volcanoes  1. What did you do in the lab today?  This week in lab, we discussed earthquakes and volcanoes. First, we predicted as a group where we thought earthquakes and volcanoes occur on the world map. After predicting, we use an online website to find major earthquakes and volcanoes. We then wrote on our map where they actually occur. We discussed our findings as a whole group. My group's predictions were similar to where the earthquakes and volcanoes actually happen, because we placed our predictions along coastlines or in countries. Next, we worked in groups to learn about the three different types of volcanoes. We made a poster on the whiteboards and presented it to the class.  2. What was the big question?  How do volcanoes and earthquakes form? What are volcanoes and earthquakes?  3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?  Where do most volcanoes fall? Plate lines/coastlines  Wegener activity map: The continents u...

 Week 8: Geology that Kids See  1. What did you do in the lab today?  Today in lab, we started by discussing the Sweater Weather article with the class. Then we moved on to examine different types of sand under a microscope, trying to determine where each type came from. As a group, we decided on some sand samples, primarily those most likely from water. After this, we moved on to examining fossils under the microscope, identifying their types, and comparing them to rocks. Finally, we took a field trip to McBride Hall and looked through the museum. The point of this field trip was to show us how we can teach our students about these topics through going somewhere to learn, enhancing learning, and engagement. For example, they have a giant sloth at this museum, and Ted mentioned that it is important for students to see it in person to support their learning.  2. What was the big question?  How can rocks and fossils help us understand Earth’s history? How do weath...

 Week 7: Rocks and the Rock Cycle  1. What did you do in the lab today?  N/A; I was absent from the lab.  2. What was the big question?  How do rocks change and form through the rock cycle?  3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?  In this week's discussion, we talked about density. We started by talking about the density of soda cans and how sugar is denser. We tested this by comparing regular sodas with diet or sugar-free sodas. The sugar-free sodas would float because they were less dense. After we talked about gold and how they actually add silver to gold. We were trying to figure out how much silver was in a gold crown. Using water, we placed each item and measured the amount of water that spilled out to determine whether silver had been added. Lastly, we opened up a geode to see how hollow it is on the inside. We divided the rock's weight by its weight when it's in water. Then Ted cracked open the geode to see if it was hollow or not....