STAR SCIENTIST

Caitlyn was our Star Scientist this past week.  She shared a flashlight that she and her mother made for her engineering item.  We learned about positive and negative ends of a battery and how the on/off switch connects and disconnects the electric source from the light bulb.  She also created a presentation that she shared with us for her technology item.  Click the link to view Caitlyn's Presentation.

Lastly, Caitlyn and her father gave a demonstration about density and how to change the density of water using salt.  We experimented with the buoyancy of raw and hard boiled eggs.  We also learned where the Dead Sea got it's name!  Enjoy the pictures below.

HARDY HAPPENINGS

Newsletter Dec. 12

STAR SCIENTIST

Sydney was our Star Scientist this week.  Her experiment was an elevator for chocolate chips.  In order to do this at home you will need:
                                               - a clear cup
                                               - 7 up or sprite
                                               - some chocolate chips
Pour the sprite in the cup and then the chocolate chips.  Then sit back, relax and watch the bubble from the carbonated soda taxi the chocolate chips up and down inside the cup!

Enjoy the pictures of Sydney's experiment and her video below.

STAR SCIENTIST

Braeden was our Star Scientist this week.  He and his mother, Mrs. Hindes, showed us how to make "The World's Best Bubbles".  In order to create them you need:
                                    - 5 cups of water
                                    - 4 tablespoons of corn syrup
                                    - 1/2 cup of dish soap
Mix and use a bubble wand to blow "The World's Best Bubbles"!  Be sure to view his video in which he gives an in-depth look at the cool toys he likes to play with as well as how to stay fit!  Enjoy the pictures from his experiment as well.

HARDY HAPPENINGS

Dec. 5 Newsletter

COMMERCIAL SHOWCASE

           
Our first 2nd Grade Conservation Commercial Showcase was a success.  We heard some great slogans, learned a lot, and were showed off some wonderful creativity.  Thank you to all parents who were able to attend.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  Below is a list of the awards given.  Thank you to our judges, Dr. Dan Hoffman (Asst. Superintendent) and Sonia Postema (Director of Human Resources).

*Best overall 3R Commercial- Think before you throw it in! (Dominic, Mason, Abby, & Austin)

*Best overall Composting Commercial- Don’t make it trash make it soil. (Caitlyn, Addison, Olivia, Connor, & Sydney)

*Most Creative Costumes- Composting

*Super Slogan- Tackle Trash

*Most Informational-  Be fair to the air (Camryn, Maddy, Tyler, & Brooke)

*Best communication- Recycling group in Patterson’s room (James Knorr’s group)

*Best use of Props- Vermicomposting

*Funniest- Recycling is good and fun for everyone (Abby, Payton, Fergus, Braeden)

*Best Ending Question- Go Green

Below are our five Conservation Commercials.

DECEMBER SUMDOG COMPETITION

I have entered our class in another sumdog at http://www.sumdog.com/ competition for December.  The contest is a statewide contest and runs from Dec. 5 to Dec. 15.  The kids can work in the training portion of the site to prepare.  Our 1st though 4th grades are entering this contest, so we are hoping to do quite well as a school.  If your student is struggling, due to skills that are too difficult, let me know and I can adjust his/her difficulty levels.  The competition will be part of their homework between Dec. 5 and Dec. 15.

Read below to find out the available prizes.

Prizes

• Overall school prize - most questions answered correctly (average across all competing students)
  Engraved trophy; site licences for Yenka Mathematics software (worth $750)

• Daily school prizes - most questions answered correctly on that day (average across all competing students)
  Certificate; site licence for Yenka 3D shapes software (worth $330)

• Student prizes - 10 students answering the most questions overall
  Certificate

HARDY HAPPENING

Click the link below.

Hardy Happening Nov. 28

STAR SCIENTIST

Mason was our Star Scientist this week. With Mason and his father, we made oobleck!  This can be made with 2lbs. of corn starch and 4 cups of water and will give you a sizable batch to have a blast with!  Oobleck is both a liquid and a solid.  When you put your hands in it will run through your fingers, but when you squeeze it, you can feel solid pieces of it.  Let go and it runs through your fingers again.  Also, when you make it, try to punch it.  That's right, I said punch it.  It won't splash it will actually cushion the force from your hand.  Awesome!  Below are some pictures and a video interview with none other than Mason himself!  Enjoy!

COMMERCIAL SHOWCASE

You are invited to attend the 2nd Grade Conservation Commercial Showcase!

Who:  Our 2nd graders and you!
What: Commercial Showcase - We will view all of the 2nd grade Conservation Commercials from this quarter.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 22 @ 2:15 (arrive a few minutes early to get your seat)
Where: Summit STEM Elementary in the cafeteria

Hope to see you there!

HARDY HAPPENINGS

NEWSLETTER WEEK OF NOV 14

EVERYBODY NEEDS ONE!

                                                                         

As we move into our weather unit we will take on the wind and rain by creating water bottle shelters.  Each student needs to bring in an item that he/she would like to put inside the shelter.  The item should be no bigger than 1 or 2 inches tall or wide.  It should be small enough to fit in a cut open water bottle.  It should not be something valuable, because it may get wet.  An example could be a small Batman or Strawberry Shortcake figure from McDonald's.  My daughter has what seems like millions of these lying around the house in every nook and cranny that mysteriously turn up missing every once in a while when we're cleaning!  We will need these this week, so please send them as soon as possible.  Let me know if you have questions.

STAR SCIENTIST

Justin was our Star Scientist this month.  He brought in a gas powered replica airplane.  The plane was 28% of the size of the actual plane it was engineered after.  That's close to 1/4 of the actual size.  Justin's grandfather came in to help.  He is an architect and shared a cool website with us.  Click on this link to play LEGO BUILDING GAMES and build your lego own structure online! 

Justin also made a volcano in our classroom.  If you want to this at home all you need is....
                                            - a bottle (you can build your volcano around this
                                            - 1/2 cup of baking soda poured into the bottle
                                            - 1 squirt of dish soap
                                            - 5 drops of food coloring
                                            - add vinegar and take cover!!

Below are pictures of both along with a video interview starring Justin.  Enjoy!

HARDY HAPPENINGS NEWSLETTER

Hardy Happening Week of Nov. 7

STAR SCIENTIST

Below is Dominic's technology posting for his turn as Star Scientist.  It is an interview.  Enjoy this clip and be prepared to learn about constrictor snakes and fast cars!

STAR SCIENTIST

VIRTUAL TOUR

Kick back and enjoy Olivia's virtual tour for her Technology peice of Star Scientist!