Academy of Science

This is the time of year that we get tons of school done. I prefer to hibernate all winter but we have fun in the process. Last year at the Homeschool Convention (which is a fabulous event!) Bill and I found these awesome science kits. Each one covers a different science topic in depth. The kits come with all the supplies to do the experiments and they are better than any science kit I have ever had. And we have had many different kinds of science curriculums! Since this company is devoted only to science they know how to make it fun.
The other great thing is that everyone can participate. For Ethan and the girls this has been great since they really like doing things all together. Even Erin has been keeping a science folder with her "results".
We brought home the Matter and Polymers Kits last spring and I am trying to figure out what I want to get this year. So many choices!
When they complete the unit they receive a certificate from the Academy of Science for Kids. So cool!
Here's a peek of what we've been doing:

This was an awesome lesson on atoms and making different elements. Great visualization!

Edible Plant Cell

Lindy and Paige had Nature homework to create an edible plant cell. They had to then take it to co-op class and share how they created it and then it was on display at showcase. Of course Mrs. Slone helped them out since some of the words can be pretty hard to pronounce. I did this with Kyle years ago but I have to say Lindy was way more into it than Kyle was, her expectations were much higher (translation - Mom had better not forget one part of the cell!)

So here is what we came up with. This needs to be documented so that I can hand the instructions over to Erin. She will be able to make her own when the time comes because of course she was very much a part of this one!

Cell wall - the pie plate

Cell membrane - the graham cracker crust

Nucleolus-dried cranberry

Nucleus -Ritz cracker

Mitochondrion - Fruit roll up cut and accordian folded

Cytoplasm - Green jello

Ribosomes - white sprinkles

Golgi Body - Fruit Roll up cut into circle filled with jelly beans

Chloroplast - Pecan

Vacuole - mini marshmallows

Vesicles - Chow Mein noodles

Large Vacuole - the pretzel rod

They were so proud and we had a great time raiding the pantry to come up with parts. I love projects like this, everyone learns so much and remembers so much more.

Studying Snow...

Lindy and I made snowflakes to get ready for our

snowy study.

We started this last week and I was going to wait to post everything until we were done. But everyday that it snows more we keep doing things so at this rate it could get posted in the spring! We have read some great books on snow and crystals. It has been another great unit study because every age has been able to find something to learn and enjoy.

Writing with icicles.

We started with the first snowfall last week. We put black construction paper in the freezer for about an hour. We took it outside and let snow fall on it. Then with our magnifying glass we were able to look closely at snowflakes and see their six sides and uniqueness, none looked the same!

Some quick fun of Snowball Basketball with Kyle and Ethan and then it was time to start on own crystal snowflakes.

He can really get off the ground!

We started with everyone making their own pipe cleaner form. Lindy made a cross, Erin a snowflake, and Ethan, Kyle, and Paige made different kinds of shapes. We did the Borax and hot water kind and let them sit for 24 hours. They turned out great and the kids loved them. We will be doing more!

Crystallizing started taking place within hours.

The finished products!

After making our own snowflake crystals we compared different type of crystals we had read about in our Crystal, Salt, Sugar Book. We folded a piece of paper into 4 squares and numbered 1-3. In the last square they were to draw their grown crystal result. On a piece of black paper I spooned a sample of the questionable crystal. Using their magnifying glass again, often doubled up with another, they were to draw the shape of the crystal they were observing.

When we were done with the 3 samples we used our book to try and identify what they were. They did really well. They got both sugar and salt correct but missed baking soda identifying it as flour. Not bad!

The samples

Identification begins....

No lesson is complete without Erin's participation.

Here she is drawing the crystal she grew.

Verifying results.

Today we followed up with painting the snow with colored water filled spray bottles. This was great fun for all. Kids wrote messages to each other and there was some color mixing going on which was really cool.

She did need some help writing her name.

Kyle wrote "Awesome Kyle". We like to think so!

We headed in to make snow ice cream. Having not made this before I had low expectations for how it might turn out but I was pleasantly surprised when it was easy and good!

Our collected snow.

Our ingredients; milk, sugar, vanilla.

Mixing

The finished product

What a great week we have had! I know there is more to come as I have more ideas so with the temps where they are the snow will be here for a while and we plan to take advantage of it!