The 4th grade did a research paper at the beginning of the year based on all kinds of information collected from the visit to the University of Idaho Dairy Center. This undertaking was the next step in writing non-fiction. It was to do a real experiment which meant that they had to know that the work could be repeated by another. The writing format was very specific. The criteria for the experiment clearly laid out. The experiences and readings all added to a final copy of a well written piece about a month after we started to study.
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The first step was to determine that the 'scientific process' is problem solving in a specific way. And, it is something they do naturally. We documented the steps and in doing so, they learned how to set up a real experiment.
In early April, we visited the Science Fair with the 5th grade. Partnered up, they had to find 4 experiments and write the hypothesis. They noted the overall presentation of the experiments and picked what they felt was the best presented. Lots of talking about what they saw and if they found good examples ensued for days. Having a model to work with helped them to think about what they would do with their PongSat.
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We did some rough planning and visited Mr. Blount's classroom to see the modules used for the past decade of near space work. The kids wrote up a summary of all the facts they gathered. Then the focus became what would they do. Knowing the variables of the electromagnetic spectrum, frigid temperatures, and very low air pressure, each brainstormed items. The list varied from pickles, to cotton balls, gravel to yeast and bread. Only two students had slightly close ideas-- marshmallows, but what each predicted was completely different.
Launch Day was April 19. After returning the pongs to each student, they compared the near space exposed pong contents to their Control. Good analysis
and conclusions were written, as well as, a few sentences about what surprised them.
Several revisions were written for the whole procedure.
The picture on the top of the blog is from the visit to Mr. Blount's room. Here is the link to Near Space Engineering--nearspaceengineering
.JPG)
The first step was to determine that the 'scientific process' is problem solving in a specific way. And, it is something they do naturally. We documented the steps and in doing so, they learned how to set up a real experiment.
In early April, we visited the Science Fair with the 5th grade. Partnered up, they had to find 4 experiments and write the hypothesis. They noted the overall presentation of the experiments and picked what they felt was the best presented. Lots of talking about what they saw and if they found good examples ensued for days. Having a model to work with helped them to think about what they would do with their PongSat.
.JPG)
We did some rough planning and visited Mr. Blount's classroom to see the modules used for the past decade of near space work. The kids wrote up a summary of all the facts they gathered. Then the focus became what would they do. Knowing the variables of the electromagnetic spectrum, frigid temperatures, and very low air pressure, each brainstormed items. The list varied from pickles, to cotton balls, gravel to yeast and bread. Only two students had slightly close ideas-- marshmallows, but what each predicted was completely different.Launch Day was April 19. After returning the pongs to each student, they compared the near space exposed pong contents to their Control. Good analysis
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| Elias and Traye proudly showing the final copy of their experiment writing with all revisions attached. |
Several revisions were written for the whole procedure.
The picture on the top of the blog is from the visit to Mr. Blount's room. Here is the link to Near Space Engineering--nearspaceengineering
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