 Measuring freezing and melting points, phase changes and field of vision, these are just a few of the concepts students in eighth grade science have been learning. Students had the opportunity to understand how particle physicists learn about subatomic particles by "Measuring Small". By measuring the field of vision under a microscope they were able to determine the width of a strand of hair, a grain of salt, and a paramecium. Also, by observing lens paper they came to the conclusion that matter is mostly empty space. Of course, what fun would it be if students couldn’t look at their own skin cells and water from a horses trough (thanks Mr. Larsen) under a microscope? If an object fit under the lens of a microscope, students observed it!
An ongoing activity that has proven to be very successful is the student’s Beauty and Charm journals. The journals are titled Beauty and Charm after two of the six quarks, which are subatomic particles. (Students will learn more about quarks during the second quarter.) Answers to investigations are in the journals, and students can ask any question
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pertaining to science, questions about character, or even give me detailed descriptions about their vacations. Parents, I am awed by your children’s inquisitiveness, the maturity, intelligence and sensitivity they have shown through their inquiries
Another investigation students enjoyed doing was observing the melting and freezing points of mole flakes in water. Maybe one reason is that they were able to light the Bunsen burners themselves. After melting the mole flakes over the Bunsen burners, students took readings every minute for twenty minutes of the water and mole flake temperatures. They were to observe at what point the mole flakes solidified, and if the water temperature and the mole flake temperature cooled at the same rate. The results of their findings were then put onto a double line graph.
Continued.
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