Ms. Gillingham Explores Science on Her Vacation !

Ms.Gillingham, one of our 4th grade teachers, took Dewey( her classroom dolphin) on her vacation this summer. She has sent me some of the exciting observations thatshe and Dewey made on their trip. These are her comments on her observations .

"Franklin Mountains State park is in the mountains and Basins region of Texas. As you can tell from the picture it is a much different ecosystem than what we have in the coastal plains region."

 

What are some differences that you see? Do you think she saw different animals here than what we see in our environment? What makes this ecosystem different ?



 



"This spider web is over the entrance to the spider's home. What an intricate trap this spider has for its prey! With a little research, you could find out the exact type of spider that lives in this area and spins this type of web."







"We made it to the top of Mundy's Gap and this view was our reward! Isn't it amazing? From this viewpoint, you can see Texas and New Mexico . New Mexico begins about where you see the green rectangles in the distance. At this point on the Texas border there is no river showing the border, and of course , there is no large black line on the ground like you see on a map. "

 

What do you think? Does all Texas look the same? What makes this part of Texas look so different? Do you think climate might have something to do with it? Do you think there is an ocean close to this part of Texas? Look at a map and see for yourself!

"There were lots of butterflies along the trail. This is a picture of a swallowtail butterfly which was sipping nectar from a thistle." 

 

 

"On one of our stops with Dewey,was to an abandoned mine shaft. You can see Dewey's new friend the Australian shepherd was with us. When we went in it was so easy to  understand why so many desert animals make burrows. It was so much cooler underground, probably 30 degrees cooler! What an amazing adaptation ! "

Good thing Dewey is not real! There is no way a real dolphin could of gone on Ms. Gillingham's vacation. It does not have adaptations for that habitat!

Thank you so much Ms. Gillingham for sharing these great observations with us !
I can see you and Dewey were great Scientists exploring your world on your vacation !
You are truly Mad about Science!
That's a good thing!

 

 

 



A Nice Home for the Turtles

While taking a walk around our park near our house, I saw this pond and several little turtles like our lab turtles, Lupe and Pearl. I wondered if Lupe and Pearl, who have been in their lab home for 3 years now, would enjoy a trip out to the pond. Of course I could not exactly put them on a leash and let them take a swim and if I released them here I doubt they would swim back when I called!

So this summer we added a fountain in our backyard and made sure the turtles could enjoy a little freedom much like their natural habitat. Here is Lupe and Pearl swimming in their mini pond. Did you know a red-eared slider like Lupe can stay under water for 8 hours while sleeping and about 2 hours when awake? They worried me when they stayed under water for so long! Their bodies are adapted for the water though! Ours are not!

Can you tell which turtle is a model and which one is real?

 

 

Lupe and Pearl feel much safer camouflaged in the rock under the water.

They really like it if I put small fish in. Guess what happens to the fish?

 

Update on our Pineapple

 

Here is the pineapple top I put in water a few weeks ago. (See earlier post ) See the roots it is forming?

Now its ready to be planted in some soil.

 

 

 

Unfortunately it takes a few years for a plant to produce a pineapple! But in the meantime we can have a pretty plant that cost us nothing!

Katie Lynn and I went for a visit back to school!

On Monday , Katie Lynn and I visited the school to get some great summer reading books at the Reading Express. We also wanted to check on the Butterfly garden while we were there.

WE ran into Veronica and Jesus getting some great books. Katie Lynn picked out a book on how to make planets! That sounds like fun!

We left the cool air of the bus and then went to see what observations we could make in the butterfly garden. It has been 3 weeks and wow have things changed! Here is some pictures so your can see for yourself.

These are the zinnia seeds we planted before school was out! Do  you see the dead seedpod on the one flower. Can you tell me how that will make new flowers?

Do you see all the seeds?

This is our bean plant. It looks like perhaps a caterpillar has been using it for food! Do you see the evidence?

This is our bean plant that grew into a vine. It has climbed all the way to the top of the fence! Look closely and you will see the beans! Do you

 see how the vine is adapted to hold on to the fence?

Look closely , Do you see the butterfly?

You have to look closely in this one. Look on the leaves, see the tiny yellow dots. These are aphids, very small insects that suck the juice from the leaves. They are not good for our milkweed but the ladybug loves to eat these. I spotted 3 ladybugs on this plant.
The ladybug is essential to our garden. The milkweed is the favorite food for the monarch caterpillars!

As you can see the butterfly garden is surviving without all our tender loving care. Nature works together in this ecosystem just fine. If only Nature could pull weeds! I wish there was an insect for that !

Now look in your yard or garden and see what you can observe!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!
I hope you are planning a great holiday with your friends and family!

 

Perhaps you are planning on going to see a firework display. What kind of energy is used to make the display? What kind of energy is produced in the display?

 

 

One type of energy that is produced you can not hear here. What kind is that? Yes! All that loud sound!

If you said fireworks produce sound, heat, light and mechanical energy, You are right!

Wow ! All that energy makes something beautiful and loud!

 

 

 

 

Why does this firework have an American Flag displayed in it? Why do we wear red, white and blue on this day?  Do you know what we are celebrating on this day?

If you said the Independence of our Country , you are right!

Wave those American flags !

 

Have a great safe 4th of July!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you grow a pineapple?

I love fresh pineapple ! So I decided instead of throwing away the top , I would plant it ! Could it really grow a pineapple plant?
Here is how I did it. You could actually do it like an experiment !

Question or Problem : Can I grow a pineapple plant from a pineapple?

Hypothesis: What is your prediction ?  I think .....

Materials : a pineapple , knife,  jar or cut off two liter bottle  and water

Procedure :
1. Gently  pull and twist the top of the pineapple until it pops off the
pineapple .

2, Now gently pull off a few of the bottom leaves on the top .

 

 3.  Now clean off any remaining pineapple on the top with the knife( make sure your adult helper does this! )

4. Now just put the top in a container of water so that just the flat portion is in the water. You can prop it with toothpicks if you need it.

4. Place  the pineapple in a sunny place and replace water every few days as it evaporates .
5. Observe the part in the water after a few days . The plant must produce roots to grow into a viable plant .




Data chart :
Here is where you would draw or photograph your before picture and wait for the results !

Conclusion :

I can't wait to see what happens ! Perhaps we will have a pineapple plant in the lab next year !
Check back in a few days and I'll show you the results!

Can you think of some plants you might could start from seed ?
As you eat your fruits and vegetables , save those seeds!
See how easy it is to make an experiment out of just about anything you are wondering about!
Just think like a Scientist !

 

 

Playing Soccer in Space!

I know how much we all love to play and watch soccer. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play where there is a lot less gravity. Remember what gravity is? Its that force that pulls us toward the center of the earth ( downward) ! Is it important? So important! Our world will be so very different without gravity. To see just how different it would be, let's take a look at what it would be like to play soccer in space!

 

This is a video clip of our astronauts on the space station engaging in some soccer moves.
Take a look ! Thinks about what other things would be so very different without our gravity.

 http://www.space.com/26217-astronauts-perform-bicycle-soccer-kick-in-space-video.html