Learning About Lightning

In class, we learned about lightning. We learned how lightning is created. We were taught how there are positive and negative charges. In a cloud, these charges meet together but still want each other to go away. The negative charges go to the ground where there positive charges to balance the charges. The lightning is lazy and wants to go through water which is really conducive. You are 75% water. The lightning does not want to go through the air that is an insulator. This is why people get struck with lightning. If you do not want to get struck, lie down on the floor because lightning will go for the highest object available.

Laser Cutting

Today in class, I finished my laser cutting project. I was attempting to make a necklace for my mom. When I finished learning how to draw on Vectornator, I took a piece of graph paper and began to speck out my design. I spent 1 class on the graph paper drawing. After this, I began to draw in Vectornator. After 2 days, my pendant was complete. I sent it to Mr. Calvert sand he laser printed it. There was no place to put the necklace chain so I made 2 more. I will now put my chain on my pendant.

Soldering My Wires

In yesterdays class, I soldered my circuit together. I was motivated to finish my flashlight in that class. I put my name on the solder list the day before. When the class started, I was seventh on the solder list but many people had forgotten to take their name off. That made me able to solder. When I soldered, I took the burning hot iron and carefully tinned it. I put a thick glob of flux on the place of where I would solder. I slowly applied the solder and fused the wires together. I had put the positive on the negative leg of the light but I un-soldered it and made it correct. I overall had a great time making my flashlight and am happy with my outcome.

-Nevin Stephens

Making My Switch

I finished my switch that I made in class today. I really enjoyed making it. When I made my first switch, I accidentally made an extra piece. My friend gave me a great suggestion on how to use it so I attached it to my first switch. Then I had two switches in one. After I attached the second switch to the first switch, I realized that I needed to keep one hand on the switch at all times. That forced me to get creative so I could add a third piece to the switch. Now I am done. -Nevin

Breakout

Today, we did an activity called breakout. In breakout, we had to unlock a cabinet that had all of the safety goggles that the custodians had accidentally locked in there.

This is the box that held the the key to the cabinet that held all of the safety goggles. We had to unlock three locks by finding clues hidden around the room. One lock was a direction lock, the other lock was a number lock and the last lock was a word lock. Our side of the room got the safety goggles first.

Testing Pore Space In Earth Materials Part 2

Testing Pore Space In Earth Materials

In today’s lesson, me and my table did part 2 of Testing Pore Space In Earth Materials. We took the same graduated cylinders that we used on day one and put one ounce of water in them. We saw how are predictions matched up. I will say now that I got none right.

When I was pouring the humus into the graduated cylinder, I noticed that the humus split. Some floated and some stayed at the bottom. I think this happened because the humus is  light material and it can float. But some of it got weighed down by absorbing the water causing it to sink. It ended up as 36 ml. I predicted it would be 35 ml. This was my closest guess.

When I was pouring the clay into graduated cylinder, I noticed that the water pushed the clay down. This created more room for the water. I think this happened because the clay did not absorb the water. It ended up as 40 ml. I predicted that it would be 27 ml.

When I was pouring the sand, I noticed that the sand absorbed some of the water. It did not absorb all of the water though. I think the sand did not absorb all of the water because the sand was packed down causing some of the water to stay on the surface of the sand while the rest of the water fell through the cracks in the sand. It ended up as 45 ml. My prediction was 25 ml.

When I was pouring the gravel, I noticed that all of the gravel stayed at the bottom. The gravel did not absorb any water. Some of the water went in between the cracks in the gravel. I think the gravel did not absorb the water because the area of the gravel is too solid.

 

 

This investigation tells me that the reason that there is usually no puddles on soil when it rains is because the soil absorbs all of the water.

Based on my observations, I think that groundwater means water that has absorbed into the soil. I think that runoff means water that has landed on gravel or rock and flown away.

The runoff and groundwater might go into a body of water such as an ocean, lake or stream.   

 

 

  

Testing Pore Space Between Earth Materials

Testing Pore Space in earth Materials

Today I did a science experiment with my table. We took some graduated cylinders and put the four elements of soil (humus,clay, sand and gravel) in them. We filled the graduated cylinder to 20 ml. 

 

We had to predict what the total volume would be when we put one ounce of water in the graduated cylinder.

For the humus, I predicted that once we put one ounce of water in the graduated cylinder, the total volume would be 35 ml. I thought this because when we put it in water in humus, some of it stayed at the bottom, and some floated and stayed to the top.

For the gravel, I predicted 30 ml. I thought this because when we put water gravel, it sank to the bottom.

For the clay, I predicted 27 ml. I predicted this because when we put water in the clay, it floated.

For the sand, I predicted 25 ml. I predicted this because when water goes into sand, the sand absorbs the water.

How To Make A Snow Globe

How To Make A Snow Globe

  1. Get a jar and take off the cap.
  2. Take a wooden disk and cover it in tin foil.
  3. Hot glue the disk on to the center of the cap (the side of the cap on the inside).
  4. Glue little figures on the disk.
  5. Fill the jar up with water.
  6. Put a tablespoon of liquid glycerin.
  7. Put two tea spoons of glitter (any color).
  8. Hot glue and screw the cap on.
  9. Flip it over.
  10. Have fun.

Scary Pajama Day

Really scary Pajama Day

Today it was pajama day. I was in the middle of recess playing knock hockey when I heard the fire alarm go off. Oh, its nothing I thought. I got my jacket and went outside. One of my class said, “ I think it is real. I said “I doubt that”. But then there was an announcement. “Please go to the cafeteria.” The principal said that there was a problem in the library. He said that we could go back to our classrooms but not to the library. Later, Mrs Hefner came in and said that there was a pipe that burst.

It was really scary but everything turned out ok.

Soil Experiment

Soil Experiment

Today I did a science experiment with my table. The experiment was about earth materials. We each got one of the materials in a little cup.

 

The gravel looks like big pieces of sand. It feels very rough and very bumpy. When we put it in water, it became hard to move. When we stirred the gravel, it began to pile up.

The sand was tan. It felt soft. When we put it in water, it became cloudy and sank to the bottom. When we stirred it, it stayed the same.

The clay was clumps of rock. It was bumpy. When we dumped it in water, it felt like super thick sand. When we dumped it in the water, it turned dark maroon. 

The humas was dark. It felt like small pebbles. When we put it in water, it slowly fell down. When we stirred the water, it looked like coffee.

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