Co-Op Week 11

This week my 5th and 6th graders are working on completing Module 3. We went over the first half of the study guide. I also introduced Module 4 and the kids completed an experiment involving pulleys. They lifted a bag on a pulley and then a series of pulleys (block and tackle) to get a feel for the mechanical advantage.














My 7th and 8th graders have just completed Module 5 and are starting Module 6 this week. They completed an experiment that I borrowed from chemistry, because most of the experiments in this module take a full day or days to complete. So, I had to find something that would work in a classroom environment.

They completed experiment 4.2 from chemistry: Distinguishing Between Chemical and Physical change. This is the experiment where you dissolve an egg shell in hydrogen chloride (toilet bowl cleaner). It just happens that this ties in with their study of physical and chemical weathering.

Co-Op, Week 10

This week, my 7th and 8th graders are completing module 5. They will be taking the quiz and test for this module in our online classroom (virtualhomeschoolgroup).

My 5th and 6th graders are continuing to work through module 3. They are finishing up the On Your Own Questions and starting on the module review.

Both classes completed the same experiment:

• Cotton Ball Catapult: measuring the distance of a cotton ball, using a plastic spoon as a catapult. Then we added experimental variables of rubber bands and tape. Needless to say the kids enjoyed this one!

Unfortunately, I forgot my camera this week, so I don't have any pictures :(

Co-Op, Week 9

This week, my 7th and 8th graders started module 5. I gave out grades for the Module 4 test and spent time lecturing on the first half of the module 5. No experiments are scheduled for this module.

My 5th and 6th graders are starting module 3. I gave out grades for the Module 2 test and spent time lecturing on the first half of Module 3. We also performed two experiments:

• Color Splash: comparing what happens to food coloring when added to water, oil, and a combination of oil and water.
• Cauldron Bubbles: making bubbles out of water, oil and salt

Co-Op, Week 8

This week my 7th and 8th graders completed two experiments and one demonstration.

• Experiment 4.1: The Lever
• Experiment 4.2: A Simulation of Using Multiple Pulleys

We also completed a demonstration using metal pulleys. This gave the kids an actual feel for mechanical advantage. We tried several combinations varying from one to four pulleys to lift our load (backpack).

The kids will be finishing Module 4 this week and taking the test. They will also begin on Module 5.

My 5th and 6th graders completed one experiment and two demonstrations.

• Experiment 3.1: A Floating Egg?

We also completed two demonstrations about surface tension. For the first one, I filled a glass to the brim with water and asked the kids to guess how many pennies it would take to spill the water. Most of the initial guesses were in the 8-20 range. It actually took 47 pennies before the water started to spill over the edge.

For the second demonstration, I added pepper to a bowl of water until it covered the surface of the water. Then I added a drop of hand soap to my finger and put it in the water. The kids were amazed at the reaction of the pepper... the way the pepper immediately repelled from the soap.

The kids are also finishing up Module 2, taking the test (if they haven't already) and starting on Module 3.

Co-Op, Week 7

This week my 5th and 6th graders are finishing up module 2 in Apologia General Science. They also created an experiment following the scientific method. They combined yeast and warm water in a bottle and then added one of three different variables: coke, orange juice and lemonade. They placed balloons on top of the bottles to measure the reactions. Then we charted the results.

My 7th and 8th graders are working on module 4 in Apologia General Science. We fell behind last week with the experiments, so we performed those this week in order to catch up. They included:

• Experiment 3.2: Which "Boat" Will Move?
• Experiment 3.3: What Does Soap Do To Water? - Part 1
• Experiment 3.4: What Does Soap Do To Water? - Part 2

I forgot to bring my camera this week, so unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the experiments.

Next week we have a break from Co-op (half way point in our fall term). The kids still have assignments to work on and will stay connected with our online classroom (virtualhomeschoolgroup.com).

Co-Op, Week 6

This week, my 7th and 8th graders are finishing up module 3. In class, we finished our module discussion, went over all of the questions on the module summary, and went over a few of the "On Your Own" questions.

They will be taking the quiz and test this week for module 3 in our online classroom (virtualhomeschoolgroup).

However, we ran out of time and didn't get to any of the experiments I had planned for them. Hopefully, we can complete several experiments next week.

My 5th and 6th graders are still working through module 2. In class, we finished discussing the first half of the module and went over "On Your Own" questions 2.1-2.8.

They were able to complete two experiments this week:

The first was called Drops on Coins. I handed out an assortment of coins (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters) and each child had to guess how many drops of water they thought the coin would hold. Then they performed the experiment and we compared the actual results with their initial guesses.

The second experiment was called Baking Soda Bubbles. We slowly added vinegar to baking soda creating CO2 and then blew bubbles across the top to see the bubbles float on top of the CO2. This is because the bubbles are filled with air and air is less dense than CO2. Neat experiment!

Co-Op, Week 5

My 7th and 8th graders completed module 2 last week and started module 3. This week they completed experiment 3.1: A Floating Egg?

My 5th and 6th graders completed module 1 last week and have started module 2. They completed two experiments this week at Co-op.

• Experiment 2.3: The Broken Flashlight
• The Lemon/Lime density experiment: Why do lemons float and limes sink? (we used oranges too)