… the First and Second Graders studied the science of snow. Both classes talked about what snow was made of, where it came from, its different properties, etc. Tubs of fresh snow were brought in for the first graders to do a free exploration. They poured both hot and cold water on the snow and observed what happened. I also passed out some (table) salt and the students got to see first hand why towns salt the roads after a snow storm. It was messy but fun!
The second graders took the temperature of snow in various locations: sunny spots, shady spots, sheltered spots, wide open spots. They were taught how to read a thermometer and how to tell the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius. They looked like real pros and gave very accurate readings. I was very impressed.
The Kindergarteners started their unit on Balls and Ramps. I gave them some free time to explore using ramps and toy cars in the block area. They then did experiments to see how changing the height of the ramps affected how far the cars rolled.