A Volcano Erupts!

The Sharks reading group, Mason Griffith, Libby Hanson, and Taya Jeffrey, recently read a book about volcanoes.  After reading the book, they decided to learn about how to make and erupt an experimental volcano.  Here are pictures from the experiment.  At the end, you will see a video of the results!

First we read the instructions.

Second, we formed our volcano out of a pop bottle and dirt.

Our hands got very dirty! :)

Third, we measured one tablespoon of dishwashing

detergent and put it in the bottle.

Fourth, we added a few drops of red food coloring.

Fifth, we measured one cup of vinegar...

... and poured it into the bottle.  Then we added some

warm water to fill the bottle almost to the top.

Last, we put two tablespoons of baking soda in a cup with a little water.

When we pour it in, our volcano should erupt!

We double check our directions to make sure we did all the steps.

We are ready for the eruption!

What Makes Hot Air Balloons Rise?

On Thursday, March 24^th, the Stingray reading group presented their reports on hot air balloons to classmates and family members.  The four students in this group, Trey Hill, Carsen Knutson, Landon Stadheim, and Lucy Stay, had read a book about hot air balloons in their reading group.  They then broke into two teams and each team wrote a report telling what they learned about hot air balloons, both in history and now.  They also developed questions to ask the class about hot air balloons.  After presenting their reports, the students used a small experimental hot air balloon to show the class how hot air makes the balloon rise.

Math Scroll Contest!

Our math scrolls are finished!  I recently challenged our class to a contest to see who could write to the highest number on his/her math scroll.  A math scroll is a number of glued together number grids where the a student starts at zero and writes numbers in order.  It is rolled up around an empty paper towel tube.  Every student was required to write to 200.  However, many students chose to go beyond 200... way beyond! 

This contest has been ongoing for a number of weeks and finally came to a close last Friday.  Check out our math scroll winners below!

Trey is our first place winner.  He wrote his numbers to 2,820.  That is

an all time high for first grade for as long as the scroll contest has taken place!

Here are the hard working winners who placed in the contest (left to right):

Sixth Place:  Lucy (wrote to 1,103)

Fifth Place:  Taya (wrote to 1,117)

Fourth Place:  Landon (wrote to 1,150)

Third Place:  Henrik (wrote to 1,361)

Second Place: Brennan (wrote to 1,389)

First Place:  Trey (wrote to 2,820)

Look how long these scrolls are!

Here is our whole class with our number scrolls stretched out.

Wow, they are as long as the hallway!  Great job, everyone!!