2nd Grade colonial science wrapped up by extracting natural dyes from plants found in the TCS garden and around campus...
They turned a liquid into a solid by "churning" butter.
Dried herbs and essential oils were used to make herbal soaps.
TCS robotics teams made a chicken coop from inexpensive materials as a project to present at the robotics competition. This year's theme was "Animal Allies," and the students proposed that a portable, easily assembled, and affordable chicken coop could help both chickens and people. They envisioned that it could even help people (and chickens) colonize Mars!
At the First Lego League competition at Bash at the Beach, the TCS team members brainstormed and implemented ways to complete missions with their robots that could simulate the human-animal interdependency, presented their projects and practiced "coopertition." It was a busy and fun day!
As they prepare to study the "50 Nifty United States," the 4th graders have been studying weather. They designed and built weather instruments and installed them in the TCS garden to monitor rainfall, wind direction, air pressure and humidity.
The 3rd grade geologists wrapped up their geology field studies with a Pangea puzzle challenge, volcano eruptions and earthquake simulations.
Check out the beautiful display case in the library entrance that shows off the 5th grade geologic time study! The students researched plants and animals from different eras in Earth's history in science, worked with Mrs. Kelly to learn how to transfer their researched facts into a paragraph of descriptive writing, and then worked with Ms. S. in art to create wire sculptures of their subject.
1st and 2nd graders explored the densities of liquids in a very STEAMy way! They layered liquids like corn syrup, dish soap, water, oil, and rubbing alcohol...
Then they experienced the ancient Turkish art (and science!) of ebru painting - floating paint mixed with ox gall on a denser solution of water and carrageenan then gently swirling the paints with special tools to create beautiful designs and transferring them to floating paper. Come by and appreciate their beautiful works on the bulletin board in the science lab hallway in lower Blatchford!
Sarah Johnson (TCS '10) was a valuable consultant and helper as she had completed an Ebru workshop in Istanbul, Turkey in the summer of 2015.
The beautiful results are on display in lower Blatchford!
Speaking of oil and water, the 5th graders have been discussing the pros and cons of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. They learned about the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and simulated an oil spill and clean up using booms, skimmers and absorbers.
The 5th grade was treated to a very interesting and educational presentation by Christopher's mom, Kate Childs, who discussed the current research by oil companies on biofuels. Her company is involved on the state level in bringing the benefits of biodiesel to Connecticut consumers. Thank you for taking the time to help our students with important real-world connections to their learning, Katie!
The 6th grade science students have been engrossed in a STEAM study of earthquakes. In the science lab, they have engineered working seismographs using a variety of materials and strategies. They defended their models in front of "the sharks" (a.k.a Mr. Beecher and Mr. Johnson) in the TCS version of Shark Tank known as "STEAM Tank." Here are some pictures of the process...
the presentations...
and the celebration when the sharks offered them all a deal that would include beneficial aspects of each team's unique model.
The best part? The deal involved donuts!
