Science Fun

It's science week and we are having fun. Ryan is learning the difference between speed and velocity in this expeirement and how it is important in physics. Using raw eggs, the boys let them roll down cardboard ramps together, side by side and yes...in to each other. Besides making a mess, he learned that it isn't speed that causes the eggs to crack but the velocity The damage wasn't to great, and we enjoyed making cookies with the casulties.

You can't tell in the picture, but one egg didn't do so well in this roll down the ramps.

Connor is enjoying his studies of astronomy. Pluto, the furthest planet from the sun, is also known as the coldest planet in the galaxy (if you want to classify it as a planet). Connor's project was designed to show how certain chemicals can effect freezing points. We all enjoyed his project- Ice Cream.

This experiement showed how adding salt to the ice lowered the freezing point of water from 32 degrees to 28 degrees. This was greatly noticed by the girls, who wanted to participate in the experiment by shaking the bag containing the icecream. They soon found out that gloves were a very good idea. Connor however, felt that the use of gloves challenged his image of manhood and physical toughness, he chose to suffer. Liam looked on with great anticipation, not of knowledge gained, but icecream to be shared. Liam was not about to be left in the dark on the taste test.

I've never been a big fan of science. This is changing as I homeschool my children. I enjoy learning about our world and the wonders the Lord has created right along with my kids.

Another thing I'm learning is the importance of measuring progress and work.

I've come across a quote from Pres Thomas S. Monson. In 1970 he said "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates."

We have implemented a grading scale for some of our school work. We combined the traditional ABC grades along with OWLS from Harry Potter series. This is our grading scale:

A-awesome

B-better (than C)

C-close call

D-dreadful-do it again

E-exceedingly dreadful

F-fearfully dreadful!!

I'm amazed at how having a standard to acheive helps the kids want to do better. I haven't had to fuss about penmanship the past few days and the kids are trying to write paragraphs with better content.

Here's to 'standards', not only are they great as a moral compass, but they can be great for school work too.