Mrs. Ranney Matters!

Matter Matters!

The science experiments and demonstrations Mrs. Ranney has been sharing with us about matter, really matter. We have learned so much!

FACT: Matter has three states, solid, liquid, or gas.

The experiments done with Mrs. Ranney explored the gas we call air. Here are the physical properties of air: takes up space, has mass, exerts pressure, and can move. 

The fabulous Mrs. Ranney shared several lessons.

#1 Air (a gas) has mass. Two balloons were filled equally. The one on the right was popped. When the balloon was popped, the mass of air was released making the right side lighter. Because it was lighter, the right side rose up.

#2 Air (a gas) exerts pressure.   First, each student held a piece of paper to their stomach. When they removed their hand and started walking, the paper fell to the ground. Gravity prevailed!

Second, students held a piece of paper to their stomachs. When they removed their hand and started running, the paper stuck to their bodies! The invisible air pushed against the paper holding it in place.

The student on the left was FASTER than the student on the right. 

#3  Air (a gas) exerts pressure. Student were given a cup of water and a straw. Each student placed the straw in the water. Then each student covered the top of the straw with their finger. Finally, they removed the straw from the water (with the finger still covering the top). Air pressure outside of the straw pushed against the water via the bottom (open end) of the straw. When the finger was removed from the top, the water fell back into the cup...or somewhere else!  

#4 Air (a gas) exerts pressure. Here is the same experiment done with a cup instead of the straw. Air pressure is exerted on the card holding the water in place. Yes, the cup is upside down! Science is cool!

#5 Air (a gas) takes up space. 

Mrs. Ranney placed a DRY paper towel in cup. The towel was taped to the cup so it would not fall out when she inverted it. Next, Mrs. Ranney placed the inverted cup into a container of water. Snappy had a close look, and confirmed that the paper towel was dry when removed from the water. Truly, air takes up space, even thought we cannot see it!

What was your favorite experiment or demonstration? 

Do you have a question or comment for Mrs. Ranney?

Mr. JR.'s Science Stop: Matter Matters!

Reminder: November is Family Blogging Month! 

Today Mrs. Yollis' and Mrs. Ranney's second and third graders teamed up with Mr. JR's high school chemistry students via a Google Hangout.   The high school students gave a fabulous science demonstration about matter.

 The two main topics of the session were science lab safety and learning about the 

 pure forms of matter called elements.

Click on the Periodic Table of Elements to enlarge. 

 

Mrs. Yollis met Mr. JR at the Google Teacher Academy in NYC,

  and they planned these science segments when there.

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First, Mr. JR came on and introduced himself. Next, we got a chance to meet a few of his students. They all talked about the importance of being safe in the science lab.

Meet Kevin. He showed us how to to be safe in the lab by wearing safety goggles and having short sleeves.

Meet Grace. What do you notice about Grace? Is she ready to safely work in the lab? 

Finally, Mr. JR had his students demonstrated how elements react when placed in a Bunsen burner flame. Look at  all the different colors the elements turn when  placed in the flame. Fireworks come in different colors based on what elements are added!

 During the science session, Abbey, Heather, and Chloe typed notes for the class. 

Here are the important main ideas and details 

typed by the talented trio:

Notes for Matter:

1. When matter is pure it is an element.

2. Sodium is an element. It is salt.

3. Today they talked about lab safety.

4.  Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.

5. Always tie back your hair so it will not catch on fire.

6. No long sleeves because your clothing can catch on fire.

7. Shoes. No bare feet in case something spills.

8. Kevin and Grace gave us a demonstration in their chemistry lab.

9. Elements are like fingerprints; they are all different.

10. Matter is found as a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

11. Be observant. Notice color variations.

12. Lighting lithium nitrate can be interesting.

13. We saw flames from the Bunsen burner in the dark!

14. We’re seeing a lot of different chemicals reactions. When they go into the flame they show different colors.

15.  Copper makes flames green. Copper is found in pennies and the Statue of Liberty is made of copper.

16. Purple fireworks are made of potassium. Potassium is found in bananas!

Some vocabulary terms that were written on the board and discussed before the demonstration.

 Here is a video of Mr. JR's lesson. Watch how different elements react in the flame from the Bunsen burner. Each element is different, like a fingerprint.

Check out these colorful chemical reactions!

At the end of the HangOut, we chanted our matter motto for our new high school science friends:  

Matter matters because it has mass and takes up space. 

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Mrs. Ranney has a wonderful post with all the matter experiments done during this unit. There is a slide show and a fabulous video. Watch the students turn a solid and a liquid into a gas! 

 

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Do you have any questions about matter for Mr. JR and his chemistry students?

What was your favorite element?

Science: Matter Matters!

The first science unit of the year will focus on matter.  

Matter can be found in 3 states: solid, liquid, or gas.

We learned that all matter has physical properties.

 

We observed the physical properties of our inflatable globe. We posted adjectives that described the physical properties: color, temperature, shape, size, texture, hardness, and flavor.

(Click on the picture to enlarge.) 

Next, it was time to investigate a liquid, grape juice to be exact.

Mrs. Yollis gathered the following materials: A jug of juice, 23 one-ounce cups, 23 popsicle sticks, and an eye dropper.

We studied the physical properties of the liquid. For example, we observed that the color was purple, it took the shape of the container, and was room temperature. Mrs. Yollis used the dropper to give each student a 1 mL taste. We determined that the flavor tasted like grapes and was sweet. The juice cups were filled and moved to the freezer.  

What do you think happened?
 

Because the temperature in the freezer was 32˚ F, the liquid changed form! The juice was now a delicious solid! Some physical properties had changed. For example, the texture was slippery and smooth, but quickly changed to rough. The temperature was definitely NOT room temperature anymore.

Science is deliciously fun! 


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Science extra credit: At home, find one liquid or one solid to observe.

Please describe as many physical properties as you can!

Remember: Physical properties are anything that can be observed about an object by using your five senses.

(Hint~ you can copy and paste the list below to add to your comment!)
 

COLOR:
SHAPE:
SIZE:
TEXTURE:
TEMPERATURE:
HARDNESS:
FLAVOR:

For fun ~ Click here to fill in the crossword puzzle!