Molecular movement, sedimentary rock

After our sedimentary experiment and our water experiments, we decided to combine them. We took two pots of water, one boiling and one cold, and put the chalk into each of them. Then we waited a few hours and checked to see which of them had formed more sediment. The pot with the boiling water already had a thin layer of sediment on the bottom, while the pot with the cold water had almost none. 

Water experiments

We talked about heat and molecular movement, and after our discussion, we tried an experiment to demonstrate the principles. We heated some water to boiling, and put it into one cup, and then poured cold water into another cup. Then we dripped food colouring into the two cups and watched what happened. As we had guessed, in the hot water, which had faster molecular movement, the food colouring dispersed very quickly. In the cup of cold water, however, the food colouring dispersed very slowly through the water.

Earth science, experiments

After reading about sedimentary rock and how it forms, Gideon took a soft chalk-like rock that he found, and we made sediment. We put it in a bucket with some water, and as the water evaporated, we watched the rock sediment form on the bottom of the bucket. 

language arts, social science, reading

These are the books we've read aloud this year. We're currently working on "The Secret Garden."
-Charlotte's Web
-The Princess and the Goblins
-James and the Giant Peach

Problem solving, construction, physical science

Constructing latches out of popsicle sticks and elastic bands to hook things together.

physical education - balance, strength, endurance

We keep pretty busy around here ...

Patterns and shapes

Popsicle stick patterns and shapes.

Reading

We've been working through "teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons." We're on lesson fifty-something. Above is a sample of what he's been reading this week.

letters and reading

Popsicle sticks also work well for making letters and numbers. "G" is for "Gideon!"

spatial learning and shapes

Popsicle sticks and clothespins work well for construction, and for exploring concepts like triangles and quadralaterals.