Videos and descriptions of the Hanover Science Day Awards Ceremony at Hanover Elementary School.
Hanover Science Day Awards Ceremony Hanover Elementary
School, Academic Year 2012-2013
All Grades
The students of Hanover Elementary School, from grades K through 5, experienced a day of science exploration on Friday, March 22, 2013. Organized in part by Mrs. Rita Smith, PTA Science Day Chairperson, and supported by many parents and organizations, including Lehigh University, Liberty High School, and the Wildlands Conservancy, the Hanover Science Day program has been running for many years! Descriptions of the programs are provided below, along with video segments recorded by Mr. Robert Floyd during the Awards and Closing Ceremony. Click on the play buttons to see the videos. Like the science programs themselves, they are organized by sets of grades.
We begin with opening remarks by the Principal of Hanover Elementary School, Mr. Lynch...
GRADES ONE AND TWO...
Animal Menagerie: Sometimes animals sustain some injuries that prevent them from surviving in the wild. Pool Wildlife Sanctuary keeps some of these animals and, after rehabilitation, they are used to educate and to help promote responsible environmental stewardship in our area. These animal ambassadors teach about adaptations and behaviors, while providing a fun learning experience.
Where's My Kitty: CSI: Students examined the skulls of various animals, and attempted to identify the animal. They then compared the skulls with pictures to see if they guessed correctly. Forensic science is the application of science to the determination of whether someone is found guilty or not guilty of a crime, and forensic scientists examine physical evidence taken from a crime scene and try to reconstruct events. Students pretended they were forensic scientists and attempted to solve the mystery of the missing cat using forensic observations and cool biology. Fingerprints, scat, tracks, and animal skins also made appearances in this program.
Small Things Big: A beam of light bends when it passes through a clear material. This was demonstrated by shining a laser pointer through blocks of plastics. When glass (or plastic) is cut into a shape which is either fatter or thinner at the center, we call it a lens. When several lenses are combined, they can either make faraway things look closer (a telescope) or very tiny things look very much larger (a microscope). Students used 30x microscopes to examine all sorts of objects around the room. The students also used “microviewers,” which are like make-believe powerful microscopes.
Sensory Science: Human senses are very complex, and it is difficult to tell how the sensory experience of one person compares with that of another. This is particularly true for our sense of taste. But, more than that, there are many factors that determine whether or not we like the taste of some food. Using scientific methods, students attempted to distinguish between regular and low-fat cookies, and between lifesavers having different flavors. They learned that their senses of touch (texture) and smell play an important role in what we call “taste.”
Chemical Magic: Students explored chemical reactions and physical changes by mixing various items together to see what would happen. Several demonstrations of chemical reactions were also performed for the children, where, Presto Chango! things changed magically before their eyes. Students learned that sometimes when you mix two things together, you still have those two things. They remain the same, keeping their identity. Other times, one material might dissolve in another, forming a solution. And finally two things can react and form something totally new when mixed. You might see this change in many different ways: a change in color or temperature, or by seeing something new form, like bubbles of gas, or a solid material. These are all signs of a reaction.
Amazing Air: Air molecules can be extremely powerful, especially when they are heated or cooled. The force of cooling air molecules trying to pull closer together forced an egg through the top of a milk bottle. This was amazing!
GRADES THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE...
Rocks and Minerals: Rocks and minerals tell the story of planet Earth since their special features reveal their origins. Students examined rocks with freestanding magnifiers, provided to enhance their observations, while the story of their special features, origins and uses was presented. Students also attempted to identify selected rocks and minerals by their special features.
Fish Tales: We can learn a lot about how a fish lives by just looking at its anatomy. There are numerous varieties of fins, body types and coloring, each perfectly suited for its undersea environment. In this program students observed a variety of fish specimens and learned about some of their special anatomical features. Students created a fish of their own and shared a “tale” about their fish based on its anatomy.
DNA and the Genetic Code: Chromosomes, genes, and DNA were discussed in the context of cell division, the genetic code, and other processes important to life. Each student assembled and got to keep a model of DNA using colored beads that represent the four base pairs.
Electrical Circuits: In order for electricity to flow and do what you want it to do, it has to move though a complete circuit. In a simple case, this starts from a battery, goes into a switch, comes out of the switch, goes into a light bulb, comes out of the light bulb, and then returns to the other side of the battery. Students examined a wooden framework that shows what the wires would look like inside the walls of a house. Then they were able to construct circuits using wires, switches, light bulbs, and battery packs.
Baggie Chemistry: Students were given three chemicals: baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), road salt (calcium chloride), and colored water (water with an indicator added to it that distinguishes acids and bases by color; a “pH indicator”). Students then mixed various combinations of the chemicals together in a baggie and observed and recorded the changes. They observed that baking soda plus road salt produced no reaction – it does nothing. However, baking soda plus water got cold and showed some color change. The road salt plus water got warm!
Electrolysis and the Properties of Matter: Students observed how electrostatic forces could attract objects, and even how a stream of water could be deflected by a charged Lucite rod. A high current of electricity was used to pull water molecules apart into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas was ignited and made a bang. Oxygen was shown to be in the other test tube by how it enhanced combustion (made wood burn better). Hydrogen and oxygen are very powerful chemicals, and they are used to power the space shuttles. Students learned how the space shuttle Challenger exploded as a consequence of the powerful hydrogen fuel and the effects of low temperatures – demonstrated using liquid nitrogen – on materials that are normally flexible, but become hard and brittle at low temperatures!
KINDERGARTEN...
Chromatography: Dots from water-soluble markers are placed on a rectangle of filter paper, which is then rolled, held in the shape of a cylinder by a paperclip, and placed in a cup with a little water at the bottom. As the water rises through the filter paper, the different colors are separated. Fossil Casts: In this “pretend paleontology” activity, students used sand to create imprints and plaster of Paris to construct their own casts. Beetle Race: Using table top magnifiers, students observed the gentle darkling beetle. Next, the beetles were set to a race. The careful student scientists recorded the data and charted the success of each beetle. Sink or Float: Whether an object sinks or floats in a liquid depends mainly on two factors: density and buoyancy. Students were able to make predictions about what would happen when objects were placed in water, and then had the chance to test out their theories by placing objects in a large tub of water.
Everyone was sorry to see this wonderful day end.
Here are closing remarks by the Principal of Hanover Elementary School, Mr. Lynch...
I hope you have enjoyed this web presentation as much as we enjoyed sharing the actual learning experience with your son or daughter. Although we have endeavored to exclude photographs where permission has been denied, it is possible for errors to occur. If you would like us to remove a photograph of your son or daughter for any reason, please send me an e-mail message at lgd0@lehigh.edu or call me at 610-758-3413, and we will remove it promptly. Please note that we will never associate a child's full or last name with a photograph except in circumstances where special permission was explicitly provided. Thank you. Gary DeLeo.
