That word alone can get a room full of Grade One students absolutely, positively giddy!
And that's how our day began, with excited kids ready to learn! Our current Science focus is on seasonal changes in Winter, and today we were exploring how some animals survive the cold.
Do you think it is warmer under the snow or on top?
This generated an enormous amount of really thoughtful discussion and the students were asked to predict where it is warmer. Then, off to experiment!
The experiment was simple: bury one thermometer in a snowbank, and leave the other sitting on top of the snow. To protect the thermometers, each was encased in a cereal box. (Honorable mention to Ben Beliveau for eating so many Cheerios for the sake of Science).
Off we went to set up the experiment! Students watched from indoors as Mrs. Beliveau tromped out to bury one box/thermometer and set the other on the snow.
We headed back to class and were very busy all morning!
After lunch, we hustled back to check on our experiment:
Mrs. Beliveau checked the box sitting on top of the snow .....
The thermometer read -9 degrees C.
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| Curious onlookers |
Then Mrs. Beliveau dug out the buried box ...
The thermometer read -5 degrees C.
What?!?!
It was warmer under the snow!
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| Genuine surprise that it worked |
We hurried back to class, and working with a giant paper thermometer, spent time exploring what this meant.
Many animals have a better chance of surviving the cold winter when there is a lot of snow. This snow acts like a blanket. It traps heat from the earth, as well as an animal's body heat when an animal burrows deep. Turns out that winters with little snow are harder for plants and animals to survive!
Science in action...way to go 1B, that is some great learning!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, Mrs. Beliveau, if you ever want to come visit the Coles family driveway with your shovel, you have our permission.