Corvallis School district 509J

Hands on Science:
Science Kit Descriptions ~ 1st Grade

>  Balance in Motion:  Balance cardboard shapes and pencils.  Make mobiles to explore balance, counterbalance, and stability.  Investigate spinning motion with tops, zoomers, whirlers, and rolling motion with wheel-and-axle systems and rolling cups.  Make ramps and experiment with wheels of different sizes.  Use flexible marble runways to investigate motion.  Includes a Book Kit with a selection of books to supplement the hands on lessons.

> Bridges:  Design and build a bridge strong enough to support the three Billy goats gruff.  Explore three basic types of bridges (plank, arch, and double beam) using index cards, an abutment structure, and gram weights.  Design, build, and test bridges with weights and describe the trade-off between number of index cards used, type of bridge, and the weight it will support. 

>  New Plants:  Grow plants from seed using rapid-cycling brassica (fast growing grass) under a grow light and observe the life cycle in one month.  Plant monocots (rye grass) and dicots (alfalfa) together in a "lawn" and compare the results of mowing.  Closely examine seed germination in a straw.  Propagate houseplants from cuttings and  watch them grow into new plants.  Plant onion and garlic bulbs and observe their development. Includes a Book Kit with a selection of books to supplement the hands on lessons.

>  Pebbles, Sand and Silt:  Learn about rocks by rubbing, sorting, washing, comparing, and seriating them.  Separate mixtures of rocks with screens and investigate clay and soil.  Do projects that demonstrate how people use earth materials in their daily lives.  Go on a rock walk to look for earth materials in use.  Put together and take apart soils; compare homemade soil to local samples. Includes a Book Kit with a selection of books to supplement the hands on lessons.

 > Walls: Help the three little wolves build a wall strong enough to keep out the big bad pig.  Explore the properties of mortar materials (sand, clay, and soil) with adhesion and earthquake tests.  Survey wall types.  Design a mortar recipe and build a small wall.  Test the strength of the walls using a demolition ball.