Friday, December 17, 2010

Urbas - Science Weeks of Dec. 17 - Jan 3



Students in class are in a festive mood as the holiday break looms. Here class is finishing a project in which they are building a conveyor system using the LEGO kits.

We are wrapping up the unit and when students return next year they will start shaking up the world studying Plate Tectonics and earthquakes!

Stay tuned.


Friday, December 10, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 10 - 16



Students continue to work on machines using their LEGO kits and this week evaluated pulleys and gears. For fun Friday, they built a car with the idea of seeing who could make theirs go the fastest. See the pictures below.






"The 54 gram weight has to help make it go faster!"















Ready to measure!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Dec 3 - 9

This has been a short but busy past week at Lakeview. The students pictured below have studied pulleys and cranes and evaluated mechanical advantage of various machines.
This week they will work with gears and determine what combinations work best for different applications.









Concentration is the key.











It worked and didn't fall down!















The class is demonstrating rotation.











Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 26 - Dec. 2


We had a short week at Lakeview this week and the students were busy with Lego activities. They have worked with Structures and will be doing labs with levers and pulleys next week. Stay tuned.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 19 - 25

Students this week have been introduced to machines via the use of LEGO kits. In the upcoming weeks, they will be constructing machines to examine work, power, mechanical advantage, speed, and in general, simple machines.

Below are some groups getting used to the individual parts.


















Always smiling for the camera.

































"I think it goes this way".



















"Does this need a connector peg or a bushing".

Friday, November 12, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 12 - 18

Students this week will be starting their investigations of machines using LEGO machine kits. They will be constructing various examples of actual machines that they have been studying. Stay tuned.


This week also starts a new feature on my BLOG where a Study Guide will be available for students to download and complete prior to a test. Look for it in the upper right hand side of my BLOG.

Below are pictures of students using balloons and straws to try Newton's 3rd Law.









I knew I could do it!










Success is getting it to spin.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 5 - 11

This has been a busy week in Science this week. Students worked on Pulleys and built three different types. They also worked on Newton's 1st Law of Motion.






Student trying to determine the effect of one washer hitting a pile and Newton's 1st Law.













If you pull the card really fast....

Monday, November 1, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 29 - Nov. 4







The 6th grade students this week made and used a paper lever to find the mass of several coins as pictured.






Nice balance.













Just about right!







Students also used spring scales to compare mass to weight. The lab was a busy place.
Something new has been added to my Blog, there is a posting of all my science notes that are being used in the current machine unit. As we go through the school year, I will be updating each unit so students will be able to access anything they might have missed in class. There will also be a section on Study Guides prior to any test or quiz. stay tuned.



















Friday, October 22, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 22 - 28

Students this week will be engaged in labs with levers to determine the mass of coins, Spring Scales to compare the concepts of mass and weight, and will be introduced to the pulley. The machines are coming.

Also under construction will be a section that will be accessible in the future in order to copy notes and concepts in class. Keep watching!

Notes:

Friday, October 15, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 15 - 21


Students have been working with the simple machines this week and next week will start to investigate in depth the lever, and mass. They will be using spring scales and balances to compare weight and mass in addition to balancing levers both mathematically and physically.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 8 - 14





Students this week did an experiment on buoyancy where they had to make a film canister float, sink, and hover in water. There are two good pictures below. Sometimes success can be overwhelming.







"I got it to hover"!
Next week starts speed and machines.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of October 1 - 7






Students have been working with Lab Glassware recently and are pictured here doing a lab practical.










It looks like someone is playing "Hide and Seek" with the beaker. The view is easier from this level.
There is an extra credit option available this weekend on Saturday October 2nd. Parents will need to take their students to the 21st Annual Downers Grove Sanitary District Open House located at 5003 Walnut Ave., Downers Grove. It is located 3 blocks north of Maple Avenue on Walnut. The facility will run tours every 20 minutes starting at 9:00 am, and will be open until noon. A certificate will be issued to each student attending and they will need to bring it back to Mr. Urbas in class next week for credit.








Friday, September 24, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 24 - 30


Students this week have been working with samples of unknown specimens and by measuring and calculating the volume and finding the mass, have been able to determine the objects density. Then by comparing the answers to a known density chart, they were able to make a prediction as to the identity of the specimen. Ah, Science.
Next week, liquid measurement.
There is an extra credit possibility available. To receive credit students must attend the Downers Grove Sanitary Open House, Saturday Oct 2.
It will be open for tours between 9:00am and
noon. The best part is it is free and a family
event. More to come this Friday.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 17 - 23

Students have been working with various samples of materials and have been finding density of those objects. Next week they will be working on an "Unknown Specimen " lab and will be trying to determine the identity of nine different materials using the density concept.

Next week there will also be a Metric Quiz on Wednesday, the 22nd. Material covered will be of the following:

Metric units
Metric conversions
Area
Volume
Density
Base number of the metric system
Triple Beam Balance parts
Measuring with a ruler

All students are encouraged to bring a ruler and a calculator to class that day.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 10 - 17







Students this week had labs that featured finding the area and volume of various objects in the science room. Next week they will learn how to operate a triple beam balance and start to put together the concepts of volume and mass to find the density of an object. We will see if it floats.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of September 3 - 9


Students have been working with the metric system this week and are starting to put concepts together. They will be working with area and volume next week and constructing a cube to use in a future lab on volume and density. Stay tuned.


Friday, August 27, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of August 27 - September 2

Welcome back students!

It has been a great summer and I am sure you are energized and ready to begin the new year.

This year the 6th grade will be doing something old and something new in the lab. I have several new ideas that will unfold during the year, stay tuned.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of May 21 - 27





Students have begun using magnetic compasses and are shown mapping a compass course for others to follow.














"Are you sure this is the right way"?











Friday, May 14, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of May 14 - 20





Student this week in science class were able to participate in the use of the Starlab dome pictured in my classroom. The dome is essentially a tent that upon entering, students are in total darkness and are able to view the stars and constellations as if they were outdoors.




Pictured here are four students that participated this year in the Argonne/CNH solar car competition in Burr Ridge last Saturday. They built the car on the table and raced against teams from nineteen other schools in some tough competition. A fun time was had by all.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Urbas - Science 5/10

None today.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of May 7 - 13


Students are continuing their investigations of the Universe and next week will be examining the constellations in detail. They will become very familiar with ten common constellations and be able to identify where they are located in the night sky.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Urbas - Science 4/30 - 5/6


Students this week will be using their Starfinders to locate constellations in the night sky, weather permitting. They should be able to explain how to find the Big Dipper, pointer stars, and the North Star. They will also be able to use their Astrolabes to determine the approximate elevations of various constellations. Keep those eyes open!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of April 23 - 29


Students this week have begun their study and investigations of the stars and universe. They will be examining all aspects of the universe and will be looking up to see what is really up there.
Keep your eyes open!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of April 15 - 22


Students for the past two weeks have been studying water and what effects it has on their environment and life. They ran percolation tests and questioned how wells can pollute the environment.

Starting this week we will be starting a unit on Astronomy. We will be focusing on stars, galaxies, and the universe in general. Keep your eyes open!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of April 9 - 15


Students have started studying about water and how it will be a factor in their lives in the future. Resources will be examined and factors such as pollution and availability will be considered.
We will be examining pollution sources as well as wells and what can affect them.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Urbas - Science Weeks of March 26 - April 8

Student this week in sixth grade finished their investigations of Color and Light and now have a brighter future. They learned many things about how light affects themselves and why color is what it looks like. When they return from Spring Break in a week, they will be examining the importance of water in our world.

The pictures below are from the Lakeview Skating party after school last Monday. Fun was had by all who attended.




Those wheels keep on turning!
Looks like a great place to play "Crack the Whip"!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of March 19 - 25

This week in Science Class, students investigated lenses, created the color spectrum, and learned how eye hand coordination affects what they do. They will be finishing their experiments next week in time for a relaxing Spring Break.

The sixth grade also went on a field trip and saw the play "Suessical the Musical" at Hinsdale High School on Wednesday. What a week!

















Students continue to investigate light and here we see a student using a prism the separate light into it's component colors.



















"Hold still, it keeps on moving"!



























A sure sign of Spring, flowers growing in Mr. Urbas's yard.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of March 12 - 18

Students have finished their experiments using Lasers and Led's this week the class results have been submitted and they are awaiting their scores. The Color and Light unit moves into filters and how different colors of light affect what the eye can perceive.


Some of the 6th Grade Team at the Willis (Sears) Tower on the observation level. Notice how their seem to be standing midair.











Mr. Urbas, Mrs. Snodgrass, and Mrs. Crews enjoy the afternoon.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of March 5 - 11



Student this week in class have been using lasers to perform several experiments involving wavelength, measuring hair and colors. This is in addition to their taking ISAT tests and they have had a full week.

These students are in the process of finding a wavelength.

Measuring the wave change through Diffraction Grating Cloth.
Careful with that laser!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 26 - March 4

Students this upcoming week will be working on experiments based on Lasers and their applications. They will be measuring the wavelength of a laser in addition to trying to find the thickness of a hair and how things glow in the dark. In addition 6th grade will be taking their annual ISAT tests, which will make for a busy week.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 19 - 25


Students are continuing to see the light in science class and this week will be working with angles of reflection in addition to determining the speed of light and how long it would take to get to another star.


There is extra credit available for Saturday in 6th grade and to gain it students need to go to the Du Page Area Engineers Week at the IIT campus located at 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton. (630) 682-6000
Displays and presentations will run all day and it is open from 11:00 through 3:30. The best part is that it is also free. Please bring back proof of attendance.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Feb 12 - 18

Students this week have begun a study of Color and Light in science and in the upcoming weeks will be experimenting with equipment such as lasers and prisms in addition to using various pigments. It will be a colorful time in class.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 5 - 11

Students this week have been busy building their towers that will be tested Monday to see if they can withstand Mr. Urbas's Earthquake Machine. Students engineered their constructions and as of Friday were confident that they will be successful. Below are some typical examples.







Thumbs up on this design!















"Are you sure it's supposed to go there"?













"Easy does it".






The guy on the right seems to be praying.