I've put some of my nature photos online. Yall enjoy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ScienceSpecialist
Friday, November 17, 2006
Sunday, November 12, 2006
As long as I'm missing this week,
I might as well take a moment to mention those other parent subject-specialist teachers.
I love that my daughter comes home talking about Salvador Dali's mustache.
I love that she sings Ram Sam Sam (slow, fast, crescendo, decrescendo), and keeps saying "Daddy, let's do Call and Response singing now".
Yes, I love teaching science. Also, music and arts are core passions in my existence. And our parent specialists are supporting them wonderfully.
Thank you, L. and A.
I love that my daughter comes home talking about Salvador Dali's mustache.
I love that she sings Ram Sam Sam (slow, fast, crescendo, decrescendo), and keeps saying "Daddy, let's do Call and Response singing now".
Yes, I love teaching science. Also, music and arts are core passions in my existence. And our parent specialists are supporting them wonderfully.
Thank you, L. and A.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Alas, no class
I had to miss class in order to take my child to the doctor. Fortunately the strep culture came up negative.
It gets worse: next week I have to miss class because I'll be travelling on business.
It gets worse: the week after that (Thanksgiving) there is no school Wednesday afternoon.
I don't think I can stand three weeks without science kids. Maybe I can sneak in on Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.
It gets worse: next week I have to miss class because I'll be travelling on business.
It gets worse: the week after that (Thanksgiving) there is no school Wednesday afternoon.
I don't think I can stand three weeks without science kids. Maybe I can sneak in on Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.
Monday, November 06, 2006
A fine state
Another week with Live Demonstrations. The topic was States of Matter (cued by the intersection of one child's question [on clouds] with the standard Montessori elementary curriculum.
We had water present in its three states, and changing from one to the other.
I explained that water vapor (gas) is completely invisible, and clouds are made of liquid water (or sometimes ice). I'm still annoyed that my 3rd grade class did not make that clear, leaving me at the time mumbling that something was fishy in their story. (Annoyingly, some English usage allows the word "water vapor" as a synonym for steam, which is – like clouds –liquid water. I did not muddle up the works by mentioning this little gem of ambiguity).
I brought a little mist sprayer such as you would use to moisten your houseplant foliage, and we watched the atomized cloudlike droplets, which evaporated right before our wondering eyes: "And now there is a whole bunch of water vapor right here. Between you and me. Do you see it? No? That's right".
Then we extended it to Other Things Also Have States Of Matter. I liquefied some candle wax and then melted some lead-free solder. As it turns out a lot of people were surprised to learn that metal can turn to liquid.
My handy soldering torch cannot liquefy rock (we tried), but after a moment's hesitation everybody was able to say where on earth one might find liquid rock. It gives you pause: every drop of lava is significantly hotter than the blue flame coming out of this thing.
. Yowch.
We had water present in its three states, and changing from one to the other.
I explained that water vapor (gas) is completely invisible, and clouds are made of liquid water (or sometimes ice). I'm still annoyed that my 3rd grade class did not make that clear, leaving me at the time mumbling that something was fishy in their story. (Annoyingly, some English usage allows the word "water vapor" as a synonym for steam, which is – like clouds –liquid water. I did not muddle up the works by mentioning this little gem of ambiguity).
I brought a little mist sprayer such as you would use to moisten your houseplant foliage, and we watched the atomized cloudlike droplets, which evaporated right before our wondering eyes: "And now there is a whole bunch of water vapor right here. Between you and me. Do you see it? No? That's right".
Then we extended it to Other Things Also Have States Of Matter. I liquefied some candle wax and then melted some lead-free solder. As it turns out a lot of people were surprised to learn that metal can turn to liquid.
My handy soldering torch cannot liquefy rock (we tried), but after a moment's hesitation everybody was able to say where on earth one might find liquid rock. It gives you pause: every drop of lava is significantly hotter than the blue flame coming out of this thing.
. Yowch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)