Mrs. Jackson's pitch exploration

This week Mr. Bouchard joined Mrs. Jackson's class to explore the concept of pitch as part of their sound unit. Students made predictions on how adding more or less water to a test tube would affect the pitch when they blew across the top. The class practiced recording their findings and they came up with conclusions based on their findings. One big ah-ha was that the more water in the tube the higher the pitch, also it's not the water that vibrates to make the whistling sound. Instead the class agreed that the air is vibrating to create the sound!

Forth Grade Inquiry Science Work

Inquiry Science Unit
For the past few weeks Mrs. Reinhardt and Mr. Bouchard have been working with the forth grade teachers and students on inquiry science.  Using a NECAP science practice task the classes have been carefully walking through the stages of inquiry science.  In their science notebooks they have been creating exemplary pieces to be used as a reference in the future.  Students made predictions and backed them up with "because" statements, they created data tables, followed and modified test procedures, analyzed data and made conclusions based on the data.  I was a fun experience for all involved and it set the stage for future inquiry science work.

An example of a data table.  

A great time was had by all at the first annual Day of Play at the Jericho Community Center. Many JES student participated in this event celebrating the one year anniversary of the wildly popular Caine's Arcade video. Here is a little video produced by Jamie Bouchard;)

Mills Riverside Park

It was a perfectly rainy day for a trip to Mills Riverside Park. Why perfect? Two of the grade three classrooms were very interested in finding out how erosion was affecting the trails in the park. Small groups visited 5 sample sites. With growing puddles and flowing water it was easy for students to find areas where the trail had eroded away and was in need of maintenance. The classes plan to revisit the park in the spring. They are also hoping to help with any needed maintenance and will even be suggesting methods for improving drainage to reduce further erosion!!

Below students look for signs of erosion.