Spark Student Motivation: Science Experiments

Whoop Whoop! It's Saturday and time to motivate each other and our students!

 I have made a commitment to myself this year to conduct more hands on experiments for science! My students are loving learning about the science process and it's great for team building and cooperation too!

First we made Paper Helicopters, my class is on the second story so this was a perfect experiment!

We met up with my son's fourth grade class, don't worry I don't have 40+ students!

When they released their helicopter they let out such a squeal that my principal came out to see what was going on! haha

It's hard to see the photo below, but the white things coming down are their helicopters. We did this twice: once with a paper clip and once without. 

Click the link to the paper helicopter activity. They loved this!

 

Yesterday was my favorite because I broke out my class set of lab coats!!!

They couldn't get them on fast enough!

(I had a mad scientist party for my middle son a couple of years ago and I saved them because I knew my students would love feeling like "real" scientists! 

This experiment was the "Bears Afloat" from AIMS. They had to work cooperatively to see how many bears they could get on piece of aluminum foil without it sinking. They could shape it any way they wanted, but they had to discuss their plan first.

They loved being able to scream, "We need more bears Mrs. Miller!"

I have enough goggles for half my class, building my collection through the Lowe's Saturday workshops! :O)

They were all engaged and working great together!

Oh, who's this? This is the mad scientist who runs this class! 

I really needed several mad scientist teachers! I couldn't get to every group fast enough to see their progress! 

 My favorite part of these science experiments is when I see my students leaning in, encouraging each other, discussing why something worked or didn't worked, cheering, taking turns, and eyes wide!
If you think about it...have you ever seen a student NOT MOTIVATED to do a science experiment?
They think they're playing!

We're discouraged from having a "Fun Friday" (recess time), so I'll be doing an exciting hands on experiment every Friday afternoon! And, we'll come dressed for success! :O)

I hope you had a wonderful week! Please link up any lessons, ideas, tips, tricks, incentives, ANYTHING you do or plan to do to get your students motivated or excited!
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Check out all the wonderful ideas from my friends who link up and don't forget to leave some love by commenting....we LOVE comments!

Two of my buddies, Diane and Amelia, are having a GREAT GIVEAWAY you might want to check out!

Fifth in the Middle and Where the Wild Things Learn!