Trip to Pennypack Farm!

Last week we went to Pennypack Farm and CSA to learn about farming.  The students learned how to plant crops in rows, how the water gets delivered to the plants and got to sample snow peas.  They saw a bee hive, learned about keeping chickens and got to feed the chickens as well.  The best part was an opportunity to do some planting themselves.  They dug, planted, watered and composted in the garden classroom at the farm.  Here are a few photos that highlight our experience.

Join us for the Nature Playdate on May 17th!

Magnets!

Kindergarten students have launched into an exploration of magnets.  Each student was given a tray filled with items to test to see if the items were magnetic.  There were some surprises!  Pipe cleaners and twist ties were magnetic, which was a surprise to everyone, while money is not, even though it is metal.  Another discovery was that there are lots of items around the room that are magnetic, including table and chair legs, and the door frames.  We'll continue for the next few classes playing magnet games and creating magnet mazes.

Save the Date for Science Night!

Science Night will be coming up soon, on April 10th.  

There will be lots of science presentations, hands-on experiments and student work to see.

Save the date for this all-school event that celebrates science learning at AFS!

Citizen Science - The Great Backyard Bird Count

This weekend, spend a bit of time outside doing something for the birds and being a part of this amazing international program.  It's a great thing to do with the whole family!  This post also comes from my favorite science for kids website, called Science News for Students and you can find by clicking this link.  If you're stuck indoors, it might be fun to read some of the articles with your children!  It's a terrific resource.  Have a great weekend of science and see you all on Tuesday!

A weekend for the birds

BY BETHANY BROOKSHIRE 

3:47PM, FEBRUARY 12, 2014

Take time this weekend to count birds for citizen science as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count.

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In many parts of the northern hemisphere, February is a time of year full of snow, gray skies and cold. But while we can curl up indoors with hot chocolate, our feathery friends must take what the weather throws at them. This weekend you can head outside and join them — if only briefly. And even if it’s cold, keep in mind that you’re braving it for a good cause: science.
The Great Backyard Bird Count runs February 14 to 17. It offers an opportunity not only to learn more about the birds in your area but also to help scientists study birds the world over. Started by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this event relies on the help of citizen scientists — people from all walks of life who collect real scientific data (often just by observing the world around them).
All you have to do is go outside and count every bird you see or hear for at least 15 minutes. You can sit in one spot, take a nature walk or do anything else. Just keep your eyes open and ears alert to any feathers or chirps. Write down how many different types of birds you saw and heard. An online guide can help you figure out which species you witnessed.
Then log onto the Great Bird Count website. After creating an account, pinpoint your location on the map provided. Now enter your data. Still unsure what to do? Instructions and a video guide on the website will walk you through what you need to do.
The birds you count over the weekend will help scientists get the big picture of what birds are wintering where. Remember: Every extra set of eyes and ears can really help.

Power Words

citizen science   Scientific research in which the public — people of all ages and abilities — participate. The data that these citizen “scientists” collect helps to advance scientific research. Citizen science means that scientists can get data from many more people and places than would be available if they were working alone.
ornithology  The science of the biology and behavior of birds.
species  A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce.

Reactions Experiment!

Today Kindergarten students tried another chemistry experiment: "Reactions and Jumping Raisins".  It was pretty exciting to see what can happen when you combine certain substances like vinegar and baking soda.  The reaction between baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and vinegar (dilute acetic acid) generates carbon dioxide gas which produced the "explosion" that happened in our first experiment.  

Next, we added the raisins.  What would happen? As we observed the raisins, we noticed that they initially sank to the bottom of the glass. Next, they "magically" rose to the top of the beaker, and then sank again.  They were jumping up and down! What was happening?  The raisins sank to the bottom  of the beaker due to their density, but because raisins have a rough, dented surface, they are filled with air pockets. These air pockets attracted the carbon dioxide gas in the liquid, creating the little bubbles on the surface of the raisins.

The carbon dioxide bubbles increased the volume of each raisin. With a greater volume, the raisin displaces more fluid, which then applies more buoyant force, pushing the raisins upwards. At the surface, the carbon dioxide bubbles pop and the raisins’ density changes again. Then they sink back down to the bottom. The whole process is repeated, making it look as though the raisins are dancing or jumping!