🔬 Sixth Grade Scientists Rock Day 2 of Reactions! 🧪
What an amazing day in the lab with our sixth graders as we continued exploring the fascinating world of physical and chemical changes! Their curiosity and focus were truly impressive.
Today, we completed four hands-on investigations that really got them thinking about the evidence of a reaction:
1. Ketchup on Pennies: We saw a chemical reaction in action as the acid in the ketchup interacted with the copper oxide tarnish on old pennies, leaving them sparkling clean! Evidence: A change in surface appearance/color (cleaning).
2. Whole Milk and Vinegar: Mixing these two created a quick chemical reaction, forming curds (casein protein) and whey. Evidence: The formation of a new substance (precipitate/solids).
3. Steel Wool in Vinegar: Students observed a classic chemical reaction where the iron in the steel wool reacted with the vinegar, leading to the formation of rust (iron oxide) and the release of tiny gas bubbles. Evidence: Gas production and a color change (rust formation).
4. Isopropyl Alcohol on the Table: This was a great example of a physical change! The alcohol quickly disappeared, but no new substance was formed—it simply changed state from a liquid to a gas (evaporation). Evidence: Change of state (liquid to gas) with no new chemical product.
We are so proud of how our students are mastering these core concepts and safely conducting their experiments! Two days of fantastic science is in the books!
What an amazing day in the lab with our sixth graders as we continued exploring the fascinating world of physical and chemical changes! Their curiosity and focus were truly impressive.
Today, we completed four hands-on investigations that really got them thinking about the evidence of a reaction:
1. Ketchup on Pennies: We saw a chemical reaction in action as the acid in the ketchup interacted with the copper oxide tarnish on old pennies, leaving them sparkling clean! Evidence: A change in surface appearance/color (cleaning).
2. Whole Milk and Vinegar: Mixing these two created a quick chemical reaction, forming curds (casein protein) and whey. Evidence: The formation of a new substance (precipitate/solids).
3. Steel Wool in Vinegar: Students observed a classic chemical reaction where the iron in the steel wool reacted with the vinegar, leading to the formation of rust (iron oxide) and the release of tiny gas bubbles. Evidence: Gas production and a color change (rust formation).
4. Isopropyl Alcohol on the Table: This was a great example of a physical change! The alcohol quickly disappeared, but no new substance was formed—it simply changed state from a liquid to a gas (evaporation). Evidence: Change of state (liquid to gas) with no new chemical product.
We are so proud of how our students are mastering these core concepts and safely conducting their experiments! Two days of fantastic science is in the books!
Our sixth-grade scientists were on fire today (figuratively, of course!) as we dove into the exciting world of physical and chemical reactions! Observing these changes firsthand is the best way to understand the difference.
🔥 What We Explored Today
Candle Burning: A classic example showing both a physical change (wax melting) and a chemical change (combustion/burning the wick).
Blowing Bubbles: A fun, simple demonstration of a physical change—water and soap molecules rearrange, but no new substance is formed.
Mixing Salt and Pepper in Water: We saw a physical change where substances dissolve or mix, but remain the same on a molecular level.
Alka-Seltzer in Water: A definite chemical change! The bubbling fizz signaled a chemical reaction creating a new substance (carbon dioxide gas!).
The students did an amazing job making observations, recording data, and discussing their findings. Their enthusiasm for experimentation is contagious!
🌟 Stay Tuned! 🌟
We're not done yet! We will be completing four more exciting labs tomorrow to solidify their understanding. Ask your student what they learned about chemical versus physical changes tonight!
🔥 What We Explored Today
Candle Burning: A classic example showing both a physical change (wax melting) and a chemical change (combustion/burning the wick).
Blowing Bubbles: A fun, simple demonstration of a physical change—water and soap molecules rearrange, but no new substance is formed.
Mixing Salt and Pepper in Water: We saw a physical change where substances dissolve or mix, but remain the same on a molecular level.
Alka-Seltzer in Water: A definite chemical change! The bubbling fizz signaled a chemical reaction creating a new substance (carbon dioxide gas!).
The students did an amazing job making observations, recording data, and discussing their findings. Their enthusiasm for experimentation is contagious!
🌟 Stay Tuned! 🌟
We're not done yet! We will be completing four more exciting labs tomorrow to solidify their understanding. Ask your student what they learned about chemical versus physical changes tonight!
Thank you to Alma Meijer for the wonderful service last night during our Help for the Holidays shopping! Special thanks to employees: Samantha, Melissa, Kurt, Alex, Hannah, and the softlines team for all of your help!
Also, special thanks to North and South Elementary staff for volunteering your time to help our families!
Fifth graders constructed and tested Native American sleds in STEAM lab. Using only sticks and fabric scraps, they were challenged to build a travois that could move heavy cardboard tubes down the hallway.
The week of Veterans Day, our 6th-grade students embraced their role as engaged citizens by writing notes to active-duty service members. This individualized learning experience in citizenship, thanks to an invitation from the Rotary Club, empowered students to build positive relationships beyond the classroom, fostering mutual support and respect for all members of our community. By reflecting on the contributions of others, students continue to grow into productive citizens.
Once again, Alma College offered an amazing experience at the Science Blowout! Third graders from North Elementary had a fantastic experience with the variety of activities prepared for us. We are already looking forward to next year.
Thank you to CMU for supporting our 3rd graders learning about geology! The kids were quite excited about the geological items you shared with us.
What a great presentation by a CMU geologist and his future teachers! The students were so excited to hold the different rocks, minerals, and fossils and were extra knowledgeable about the topic since we are learning all about it in reading! Thank you to our PTO for providing this great learning opportunity!
Third graders went to the Alma College Science Blowout and had a blast learning about many different topics from chemistry to animals!
Hello North Families! Please make sure that you are reading The Buzz when it is sent home!
Please make sure to pay attention to our scheduled half days and full days off in November. You
can find those days located in the Dates to Remember.
Swarm Together, Mrs. Rayburn
Please make sure to pay attention to our scheduled half days and full days off in November. You
can find those days located in the Dates to Remember.
Swarm Together, Mrs. Rayburn
We are looking for a few good grandparents who would be willing to dedicate some time to our students. If you think that you and someone you know may be interested, please pass this information along to them.
Thank you to our amazing PTO for organizing a geologist presentation for our 3rd and 4th grade students. Rickey, a geologist from CMU and two future elementary teachers studying at CMU brought Yooperlites, iron, meteorite, Petoskey stone, quartz, Megalodon tooth, fossilized poop, petrified wood, and more!
Game day or hunt day? Dress in your Blue & Gold to cheer on Ithaca Football or break out the camo for opening day of deer season tomorrow, Friday, November 14
What a memorable experience for 4th graders! To mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, we were fortunate to have a special guest, Scott Johnson, play his guitar and sing the powerful song about the event. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to connect with history through the art of music and storytelling!
Feeling that crisp air? Time to break out the flannel! Cozy up in your favorite plaid and celebrate fall — show us your best flannel fit on Thursday, November 13
Happy Veterans Day from the Fifth Graders at North Elementary!
Today, the fifth graders in Mr. DeRosia’s, Ms. Richardson’s, and Ms. Sopocy’s classes attended the Veterans Day ceremony at the courthouse in downtown Ithaca. Several students had the special opportunity to present speeches they wrote and practiced. Each student did an incredible job speaking and representing North Elementary with pride!
Our fifth graders were especially honored to recognize and thank the veterans who are part of our Ithaca Schools staff — Mr. Pendell, our RTC Coordinator at North Elementary; Mr. Netzley, our Superintendent; and Mrs. Loving, our School Social Worker at North.
The fifth graders are so grateful for the veterans in our community and were proud to honor them today. As they continue learning about U.S. history in social studies, they are gaining a deeper understanding of just how important our veterans’ past and present service truly is.
Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans in our community — thank you for your service!
Sixth graders used their electrical engineering skills to control their chromebooks with playdoh and makey makey circuits boards in STEAM today. Partners experimented with playing different instruments and creating etch-sketch artwork using only their created playdoh circuits!
Reminder: Tomorrow is Veterans Day. We invite students and staff to wear red, white, and blue to honor the service and dedication of our Veterans. Small acts of recognition build a culture of respect.
Our 5th graders had an amazing opportunity today when a Native American group visited North Elementary to share a special presentation with us! The presenters performed traditional Native American dances and songs, and even invited students and teachers to join in and learn a dance together. Students also had a chance to ask questions and learn about the different outfit styles and types of dances performed. This experience tied perfectly into our 5th grade learning, connecting to our social studies unit on Native Americans and one of our classroom books. It was a wonderful day of learning, culture, and connection!
Sixth graders experimented with materials engineering today by constructing tennis rackets in STEAM. Working designs bounced tennis balls on the ground at least six consecutive times!
