State of Matter

This week I decided to investigate the state of matter this is my “big idea.”  The reason I chose to look at this topic is due to I am being the Physical Science Unit next week and the first part the students will be learning about is matter.   One of the best sites I found in which I will be able to use in my classroom is the on Discovery Education.  The name of the video is called Matter and its Properties: Observing the Properties of Matter.  This video has a pretest as well as a post test.  It also has a lesson plan which is designed to go along with the video.  In addition the video is broken up into six segments.  The only problem I see about anyone using this site is you have to have a subscription to the site.  I am very lucky to say my school purchased this subscription for me a few years ago.  Another good site in which I found which can be used every day by teachers is YouTube.  YouTube has some wonderful video which teach the States of Matter.   There are many sites online about matter, from videos to lesson plans.  If a teacher wants to find the sites all they have to do is look. One of my favorite sites I found was The Phantom's Portrait Parlor this site can be used as a science investigates in the classroom. These are just a few sites I have found and I would say there are many more. 

The way in which my students will get prepared for the 21^st century by using these type of sites is through investigate each site and using them in their research and or science inquiry.  The type of activity I would plan around these sites in a guided inquiry lesson, in which the students would have research as well as complete an experiment. 

The biggest challenge I would have in using some of these sites is money.  One of the best sites I found in which I can use does cost money.  The way I could get around this is by using the site in the classroom as a whole class lesson.

 Sites:

http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Graduate/TI/pages/LEWIS/matterweb.htm

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html

http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/whatismatter.html

http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/matter/

http://www.factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/matter.html

http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/phases/nitrogengas.html

www.discoveryeducation.com  looks for the video Matter and its Properties: Observing the Properties of Matter.

Teachers guide

Video

Pre and Post Test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9WYweBA6vA

 

The Heat is On

 

This week I had to complete and experiment about heat.  This experiment involved using four identical cups.  I chose to use Fiesta mugs for this experiment because I felt they would hold the most heat.  Next, I had to heat water and place the same amount in each mug.  When I placed the water in the mugs it measured 50 ° C.  Next, I had to place different coverings on top of the mugs.  I chose to place foil on the first mug, paper on a mug, dish towel on another mug and a Smart wool sock on the last one.  Then I made my hypothesis as to which one would be the best insulator. My hypothesis was the mug which was covered with the Smart Wool sock would remain the warmest.

 

Then I waited for thirty minutes before I took the temperature of each cup.  The one covered with paper only measured 35 ° C. The one covered in foil measured 44° C, Next, the one covered with a cotton dish towel measured 45°C and finally the one covered with the Smart Wool sock measured 38° C.  When I saw the results of the temperature change I was surprised.  I thought the Smart Wool would hold the heat the best, but it did not. The one which held the heat the best was the one covered in a cotton dish towel.  Why was this?  Why did my sock not hold the heat in the best?  I finally thought of the reason behind this, it was because the material which the sock was made from.  Yes, the Smart Wool sock does keep my feet warm in the winter, but it also keeps my feet dry and comfortable in the summer.  This means the sock is made to work both ways. 

 

As to how I could use this experiment in my classroom, it would work well as I am teaching temperature.  I could have the students complete the experiment, but instead of taking the temperature one at a time, each person in the group would check the temperature at the same time.  This might make the results a little different.