This week was busy with writing, reading and learning. We started the week by learning about prime factor trees. We then used these trees to help us solve number puzzles. Students should be comfortable with the terms: prime, composite, factor, commutative property, order of operations. In science, we've begun to study Earth's Changing Surface, a unit that focuses on the rock cycle, layers of the earth and changes in Vermont's landscape through time. Once again, we have a song to go with our learning:
Divergent, convergent or transform?
Cutting the Earth is serious business
Is this the elusive raw eggs?
Look at my egg!
Is this the raw one?
Pushing and squeezing to see the "plate" movements
More pushing and squeezing
More scientific slicing of the "Earth"
We explored the basics of plate movement using hard boiled eggs from my hens! We carefully cracked the "crust" and experimented with how to make the shells simulate different plate movements. Next week, we're going to learn more about Pangaea, plate tectonics, volcanoes, and earthquakes. In the meantime, be sure to have some family fun making the volcano models. Be as creative as you want! We'll be sure to videotape the eruptions!
