What's the Matter?

Welcome back Parents! This week we have been learning that matter has physical properties. We are learning about the three states of matter which are solids, liquids and gases. As stated in the TEKS the student must identify matter as liquids, solids, and gases.

A good game to play that reinforces characteristics about the states of matter can be found on the states of matter site. To play this game you move the cart left or right which represents solids, liquids and gases and you put the appropriate phrases in the correct cart. Buckle up!

Another great game to reinforce the states of matter is at BBC Solids and Liquids. On this site you and your child can experience how some solids turn into liquids when heated. You pick a solid such as butter or chocolate and put it in a beaker and turn up the heat and see what it does. It is a great way to experience and reinforce what we have been learning about solids, liquids and gases. Be careful and don’t burn yourself.

At the Gases, Liquids and Solids website you can help your child review about the particles in each state of matter. This site gives a great visual to show the difference in the number of particles as well as the speed of the particles in solids, liquids and gases.

Safety, Safety, Safety Let's Be Safe

Hello Parents. This week we are learning about safe practices during field and laboratory investigations. It is important that your child understand safety labels and important safety equipment. We have been learning how to use safety precautions while conducting laboratory investigations. The TEKS state that the student should demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations.

Kid’s Korner for Big Kids is a great site for you and your child to explore to learn about safety symbols and their meanings. This site also contains other great links to sites that also deal with different types of safety.

A great fun video to watch about lab safety rules and proper lab atire can be found at The Lab Safety Games. Watch three groups compete in an experiment and watch how they use proper lab safety.

There is a great list of lab safety rules found at Mr. Thackwray’s Lab Safety Rules. This site has great pictures to go along with each safety tip.

Surrounded By Simple Machines

Parents this week we are studying about simple machines and how they work. After exploring the different websites about simple machines I challenge you and your child to go around your house and identify the simple machines that you can find and discuss them. As stated by the TEKS the students should observe a simple system or machine and describe the role of various parts such as a yo-yo and string.

The yo-yo is a toy consisting of two equally sized and weighted disks of plastic, wood or metal, connected with an axle, with a string tied around it.

In the original yo-yo design, the string was secured to the axle. In the modern design, the string is only looped around the axle, allowing the yo-yo to "sleep."

A fun easy way to learn about wheel and axles, levers and pulleys is at Simple Machines. On this site you click on different machines and you identify them as a lever, pulley, or wheel and axle. This is a fun way to reinforce the idea about simple machines that we have been learning about in class.

A fun interactive game to play with your child on simple machines is found at Rube Goldberg. While playing this game you and your child must adjust several pieces of the machine to make it work properly. After you figure out the machine watch how it works. It is a very fun interactive way to learn about machines. It also gives you hints along the way. Have fun making your machine work so you can serve lunch to everyone.

Another fun game to play with your child to help them observe and learn about simple machines is at Edheads. Edheads is an interactive web site for simple machines. You and your child can learn about simple machines while you explore the house and shed. As you identify simple machines in the house and shed there are questions about what type of simple machines they are.

What's In Our Solar System?

Dear Parents,

This week we are learning about Our Solar System. We are learning to identify the plantes in our Solar System.

The Eight Planets are:
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Earth
4. Mars
5. Jupiter
6. Saturn
7. Uranus
8. Neptune

As stated by the TEKS the students must be able to identify the planets in our solar system as well as their position in relation to the Sun.

Here are some Internet sites that you and your child can explore together. All of the sites will help your child learn to identify the planets as well as their position in relation to the Sun in a fun interactive way. Enjoy as you explore our Solar System. Beware and keep your eyes on a look out at all times while entering the Solar System!

A fun game about the Planets can be found at Planet Pursuit. This is a fun game that your child will enjoy playing while at the same time they will learn about the different planets. The students pick an astronaut they want to be. They choose what planet they want to explore. On the way to the planet the student much shoot asteroids to safely land on the planet. Once the student lands safely on the planet, they go through a maze and then answer questions about that planet. This website is a great way to reinforce what the students need to know about the different planets.

Another site that will help reinforce facts and help your student identify the planets and thier relation to the sun is at Interactive Solar System Facts. At this site the students will click on a rocket to use the interactive animated tutorial to learn facts about space and the planets. Find information on the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

The Science and Nature website has a fun interactive way for your child to build the solar system. This is a great site that will help your child identify planets visually and well as reinforce their knowledge about the planets in relation to the sun. Don’t get lost in outer space!

Welcome

Dear Parents,
Welcome to Ms. Dean's "We Rock At Science" third grade science edublog. On this edublog site you will find what we are learning about in class as well as fun links to resources, games, and other activities that you and your child can do together. These activities will help your child to reinforce what we are learning in our class. Each week I will be updating the edublog to post the new information that we will be learning in class. This will be an easy and fun communication tool for you to keep up with what we are learning about in class as well as work with your child. I hope that you and your child have a great time exploring the hands on activities on this site.

Ms. Dean