The Science Page



​Welcome to the Science Page! Walker School is dedicated to providing students with a first-rate science curriculum while making learning fun. If you have any questions about the Science initiative at Walker School, contact the Science Committee at science@walkerpto.com.

Science Week 2018
Science Week is fast approaching! Lots of fun activities are planned for February 5th through 9th at Walker School. 

February 5th — All-School Science Assembly – 2pm

February 6th/7th — TinkRWorks In-Class Experiments

February 8th — Science Fair – 6-8pm 
  • Entries were due January 25th!
    **The class with the most entries will win a popsicle party!**
  • STEAM partners will conduct experiments /activities with the kids – bring the whole family!
  • New: Listen to the presentations of 3 friends and earn a small prize!

February 5th-9th — Science Question of the Day

A special thanks to our co-chairs, Kristina Cesca and Kim Lowe, and their magnificent team for all their efforts!
​

Question of the Day
Day 1:
Joe was studying insects in his second grade class.
He wanted to teach his brother something new about the insects they have studied.
​Which fact is accurate about all insects?
   A.  All insects have stingers
   B.  All insects have 6 legs
   C.  All insects have wings
   D.  All insects are poisonous
Answer: B
  • All insects have 6 legs —  These legs are are mainly used for walking. They are also useful for jumping, hunting, swimming and digging burrows.​​
Day 2:
Which of the following is found in plant cells
​but not in animal cells?
   A. Cell Membrane
   B. Chloroplast
   C. Nucleus
   D. Mitochondria
Answer: B
  • Chloroplast — One of the main functions of the chloroplast is its role in photosynthesis (which is the process by which plants make their own food)

Day 3:
When launching a water rocket, how much water would make the rocket shoot highest?
   A. More
   B. Half Full
   C. It doesn’t matter
​   D. Less
Answer: D
  • Less — The less water added to the rocket, the higher it will go. If we have a lot of water, it would be adding too much mass.

Day 4:
Which is the hottest planet the solar system?
   A. Jupiter 
   B. Mars
   C. Mercury
   D. Venus
Answer: D
  • Venus — Venus is the hottest planet even though Mercury is the closest to the sun. The reason that Venus is hotter than Mercury is because it has an atmosphere made of carbon dioxide. It also has clouds of acid inside its atmosphere. This is called the greenhouse effect.

Day 5:
If you are in outer space and you push a bowling ball away from your chest as hard as you can, what will happen to you?
   A. Neither you or the bowling ball would move
   B. The bowling ball will fly away, and you will fly in the same direction 
   C. The bowling ball will fly away, and you will stay
   D. You and the bowling ball will fly away in opposite directions
Answer D
  • You and the bowling ball will fly away in opposite directions

Science Fair 2018
Science Fair is Thursday, February 8th, 2018, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, in the School Gym. All families are welcome to come by and see the amazing projects our students have been working on. In addition, we will have TinkRworks on hand doing cool experiments, as well as other fun activities from our Art curriculum. Hope you can join us!

WHAT SHOULD I DO FOR THE SCIENCE FAIR?
Are you looking for Science Fair ideas and resources? Here are a few suggestions...

Science Bob (website)
  • Science Bob has been featured on shows such as The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Live with Kelly.
  • This website houses experiment ideas, science fair ideas, research help, and videos of Science Bob in action.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (website)
  • Videos through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that take you through the steps of a science fair project on this website.

The Science Buddies (website)
  • The Science Buddies website has a topic selection helper based on a science interest survey you can fill out.
  • It also has a “Project Guide” section that can show you what to do at each step of your project.

BrainPop (website) / BrainPop Jr. (website)
  • Looking for videos to provide background knowledge on scientific topics or to help you figure out what your scientific interests are? Try Brainpop or Brainpop Jr.
  • Use your password on the flyer in your binder to log on.

TrueFlix (website)
  • District 181 subscribes to TrueFlix which has beautifully crafted, kid-friendly digital nonfiction books about of variety of topics including many scientific concepts.
  • Use your password on the flyer in your binder to log on.

Crash Course Kids (website)
Crash Course Kids runs a Youtube Channel full of short, explanatory videos about scientific and STEAM based topics.

National Geographic Kids (website)
National Geographic Kids runs a Youtube Channel that houses amazing short videos about a variety of topics, including STEAM related topics.


MORE RESOURCES AND IDEAS FOR SCIENCE FAIR AND STEAM-BASED PROJECTS

Everyday Mysteries Fun Science Facts (website)
  • Archived by the Library of Congress, houses a collection of intriguing questions and answers.

The Magic School Bus (website)
  • It is back again! Not only can you find new videos on Netflix, but this website has experiments you can try at home.

National Geographic Kids (website)
  • A collection of kid-friendly resources and fact sheets.

DK Find Out (website)
  • Categories include Animals and Nature, Science, and many more that you can browse for ideas and research.

Wonderopolis (Website: Science / Math / Arts-Culture / Technology)
  • This site can help to satisfy curiosity about a variety of topics including science, math, arts, and technology.
  • Each article links to more resources and other ideas you can try to learn more about it.

“Wow in the World" (podcast)
  • This podcast is a new way for families to connect, look up and discover the wonders in the world around them.
  • Every episode, hosts Mindy and Guy guide curious kids and their grown-ups away from their screens and on a journey.
  • Through a combination of careful scientific research and fun, we'll go inside our brains, out into space, and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology.

Compiled by Ms. Belfiore, Walker School Teacher Librarian 2018.

STEAM Books Available at the Walker School Library

Pics from Science Fair 2017

The 2017 Science Fair included many activities, displays, experiments and so much more. Attendees got the opportunity to:
  • Walk the aisles and enjoy student experiments from kindergarten through fifth graders;
  • Conduct hands-on experiments and activities with Walker's Art Department and our STEAM Partners:
                                       TinkRWorks  |  Grace Children’s Academy  |  Bricks4Kidz
  • Learn about the science of color and the eye with Hillary Andrlik
  • Experience a fruit/vegetable piano, watch a drone, play with a Rubik’s Cube solver, check out a plant-monitoring system, interact with a robot, and use a 3D printer with TinkRWorks; and
  • Explore engineering and architectural principals with Bricks4Kidz.
 
Some resources to help with ideas for the Science Fair and classes outside of school:

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry
FermiLab in Batavia, IL
Kiwi Crate, Inc.
Science Buddies
Home Science Tools Inspired Learning

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