Saturday, August 31, 2013

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!
Don't forget to grab my button and link back to this post!
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!
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Fifth in the Middle and Where the Wild Things Learn!
 

13 comments:

  1. Oh my...I think I need to get a wig like that! It is so cool to see your kids dressed like scientists! I bet they loved that!!

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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  2. This is so cool!! I love the lab coats and safety goggles:) Oh, and you with your mad scientist hair? Priceless. Are those high heeled chairs in the picture?!? You never cease to amaze me!!
    ~Holly
    Fourth Grade Flipper

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  3. I LOVE the mad scientist look! It makes the whole lesson. And giving them their own goggles and lab coats must have made them happy! Great ideas!

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  4. Thanks for sharing the lesson with us. I will have to try that with my kiddos! I love that you have lab coats for them! Where did you get them?

    Hunter's Teaching Tales
    Find me on Facebook

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  5. Love this post! I bet your kiddos look forward science everyday!!
    A Tall Drink of Water

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  6. OMG!! that mad scientist teacher is AMAZING!!! SUPER CUTE!!!

    I loved using AIMS math and science when I taught elementary! That brings back so many memories!

    LOVE IT!!!
    Elizabeth
    Hodges Herald

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  7. Love the lab coats, love the wig!! It makes me wish I was teaching science this year instead of social studies!! Totally motivating science experiments. We made the helicopters last year and students were taking them out for recess to continue their experiments - only most of them flew away it was so windy :)
    How are the felt pieces working on the bottoms of the chairs??

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  8. My kids totally loved wearing their lab coats last year for owl pellets!!! :)
    Jivey
    ideas by jivey
    Follow Me On Facebook! :)

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  9. Oh my goodness! I love that you have class lab coats! Lucky kids!
    -Lisa
    Grade 4 Buzz

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  10. I LOVE that wig! I'm sure that your students loved it! The lab coats are great too. Awesome ideas to motivate your kiddos!
    Wendy
    One Happy Teacher

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  11. Wonderful stuff! Love the wig, and your students look like they had a marvelous time! AIMS science and math lessons are fabulous--many have been around for YEARS, but they never "go out of style", as they say! I did not make it in time to link up yesterday, but I will be linking up a little late tomorrow...

    Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful ideas!

    Smiles,
    Sarah @ Hoots N Hollers

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  12. I think I just want to be a student in your class now. Do you have any openings? I will behave...I'll even raise my hand to speak. What do you say?
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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  13. It will surely be a good thing for the students to read and reflect upon the better provisions of interest which will guide them to better provision of ideas. do my chemistry homework

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