#11

Our balloons are looking pretty sparse!  Not that many days left!


The 7th and 8th graders did more exploring/engineering with wire and nails today.  Yesterday I picked up some thinner wire (20 gauge? it's used for thermostats) so it would be easier to twist.  The students found out it isn't as powerful as the 14 gauge.  They also discovered the magnetism moves with the wire and more coils around the nail mean an even more powerful magnet.


The 5th graders explored sound today.  First they tapped on their desks to see what it sounded like.  Then they put their heads on their desks to see how the sound changed.  Then I gave them different types of cups.  They put their ears on the cups on the desks and tapped their fingers on the desks.  And lo and behold we realized that sound travels better through objects than through the air!  We also realized that the wider the cup, the lower the sound.  Narrower cups make higher pitched sounds. 


Balloon activity for tomorrow: make a Mother's Day present.