6th Grade Science News

Our class has begun "Variables" in our Foss curriculum.  We will be learning how scientists use critical thinking, careful observation, and measurement to conduct experiments.
The big ideas in this module are system and variable.  Any collection of objects that is working together we identify as a system.  The systems your child will be using are pendulums, boats, windup airplanes, and catapult systems called flippers.  In each system the interacting parts influence how the whole system behaves or performs.  If the parts of the system can change, those parts are called variables.  An understanding of the idea of a variable and the ability to identify and control variables are the cornerstone of scientific experimentation.
Here's an example.  The pendulum students use is made from a piece of string, a paper clip, a penny, a bit of tape, and a pencil.  When hung from the pencil and put into motion, the penny, held by the string and the paper clip, swings back and forth.  The number of swings can be counted, and that number is the outcome of our experiment.  The length of the string can vary, as can the mass of the system, the point from which the penny is released, and the length of time the swings are counted.  Which variables influence the number of swings?  And how does the answer to that question help us to get a slow grandfather clock to run on time? That's one of the challenges we will be tackling in this Variables Module.
Please take time to engage your child in conversation about their investigations in class to reinforce their understanding of concepts and share in their experiences.