Magnets, magnets, magnets



The wire part of the fly swatter is magnetic.

Finishing up our force and motion unit, we discovered all about magnets. First I just let students discover around the classroom with magnets. Sometimes they just need to discover by themselves and then make conclusions using that information. Students were highly engaged and lots of science talk was going on.

The top of the clipboard is magnetic.



Staples - this could be a quick way to clean up around the classroom.

Next, the question posed was - Does a magnet have to touch an object to attract it?

Students moved through different stations - cardboard, paper, water, plastic,and foam. They used magents to see which objects could move through various materials. 













Sea World Field Trip

We are so lucky to be able to take our second graders to Sea World each year. We start our Sea World unit the week before we go and then continue the week after. Students LOVE to learn all about the different animals.
We did a blubber experiment - students had one hand in icy water and one hand in a blubber mitten in icy water. They quickly saw how it was necessary for the animals to have a layer of blubber.
We did a baleen krill experiment - combs with rice - to show how baleen whales filter their food rather than the toothed whales.
We measured dolphin, killer whale, and blue whale lengths. Blue whales can measure about 90 feet.

Our class favorites at Sea World were the beluga whales, the dolphin show, and of course Clyde and Seymore Show.  Students were able to touch and feed stingrays as well as feed the Seals.

Dolphin Nursery

Touching the Stingrays

Dolphin Cove

Waiting for the Show