Urbas - Science Weeks Dec. 18 - Jan 1

Holiday break is here and there is no homework.

There is an extra credit option available for students. To participate, students can go to a museum, Sci, Field, or the zoo, etc. You must bring back a proof of admission with the date, or an exhibit brochure with a note on it from Mom or Dad saying you attended on what date. You can go to a maximum of two different museums over break.



Do you know what this is below?











Scroll down.













Frosty the Snowman's Baby Picture.

Happy Holidays!

Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 11 - 17

Students this week have been build and evaluating several different Lego constructions that involved pulleys and gears. They have been investigating Mechanical Advantage and what it means to a machine and the work it performs.

Next week there will be a test on machines and students will be finishing up their machine building.


Below are students working on various constructions.

Since we are also at the holiday time of the year, won't you please help out this charity, it doesn't cost anything more than your time every day.


http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/











"Did you see what we built"?














A successful day in the lab.

Urbas - Science Week of Dec. 4 - 10

Science this week has been all about Lego's and what can be done with them. Students have learned the basic assembly of several prototypes and have also built various structure that have characteristics they will be using in the future.

These students have been building some amazing machines that shown how conveyors work as shown in the photos below.









It's all aligned.

















It works, just like we thought it would!

Urbas - Science Week of Nov 27 - Dec 3

Students have begun their work with Legos and have had a great although short week. The Thanksgiving holiday will recharge their batteries and for the next few weeks before winter break they will be examining all types of machines using lego kits.

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 20 - 26

Students have started the unit on LEGO machines this week and are excited about using "toys" in class. Little do they know that there is actually real science content that they will be exploring. The introductory aspect of learning the part names took place this week and next week they will start building structures and working models using Lego's.

"We want to build".

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 13 - 18

Students are working with Newton's Three Laws of Motion at the current time. They are starting to understand why events occur and what the results are. The laws can be tied to football games and rockets and many occurrences they come into contact with daily.

Happy Friday the 13th, by the way.

Urbas - Science Week of Nov. 6 - 12

Students this week started their investigations of pulleys and have started to realize some of the uses for them. As pictured, pulleys and cranes have been instrumental in the building of our country and important buildings.

Next week students will continue to explore the pulley system and will lift objects, themselves included to new heights.

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 5

We had a great week in science this past week with students working on the difference between weight and mass. They should understand that weight is a function of gravity and mass is just the "stuff" something is made of. Mass doesn't change but weight can because of a planets gravity. (Oh, also the amount of candy consumed also.)

There was also a field trip which the kids enjoyed thoroughly on "Mathemagic", ask about it.

Next week we will be working with pulleys and it will be an uplifting experience.

Have a safe Halloween!

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 23 - 29

Students this week examined the concept of speed and next week will be working with speed and velocity. They will also be using newton scales to develop a relationship between mass and weight.

The sixth grade will also be going on a field trip Thursday to see "Mathemagic" at College of DuPage. It sounds like a great week.

Urbas - Science Week of October 16 - 23

Students have begun their investigations of simple machines starting with the lever. They will be learning how levers are in everyday use and how common they are in life.

This week also, letters are going out from the various 6th grade teachers about the upcoming conference scheduling. Please respond ASAP because it is first come, first served.

Urbas - Science 10/9 - 15

Students have finished the investigations of metrics, scientific method, safety, and lab equipment. They will be beginning the study of work, power, machines and forces kinetic and potential energies next week.

The real work starts next week.

Urbas - Science Week of Oct. 2 - 9

Students have been working on Science Safety rules this week and have also been using the Scientific Method. Next week there will be a test on Friday the 9th, covering density, safety, scientific method, measurement, and lab glassware.

There is an opportunity for extra credit Saturday Oct. 3. Students need to visit the Downers Grove Sanitary District at 5003 Walnut Ave. three blocks north of Maple Ave. at the Burlington tracks. The facility opens at 9:00 am and tours begin at 9:15 and run until 12:00, every 20 minutes. Students will receive a certificate for attendance and need to bring it in to me for proof of attendance.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 25 - Oct. 1

Students have been applying the concept of density to an objects ability to float or sink. This week students were challenged to make a film canister float, sink and hover in a beaker of water. Some of the results can be seen below.

Just a little more water.

That should be about right.

Wait, it's supposed to sink!

Next week students will be concentrating on safety and the scientific method in science.

See you then.

There is an opportunity for extra credit for students this Saturday, Oct. 3. Students can visit the Downers Grove Sanitary District and take the tour from 9:00 am - noon on Saturday. Tours start every 20 minutes and upon completion, students will receive a certificate of attendance and bring that in to show to me next week.

Address: DGSD

5003 Walnut Ave.

Downers Grove

The location is three blocks north of Maple Ave. at the Burlington railroad tracks.

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 18 - 24

Students are continuing their work learning about and using various science equipment. This week they worked on the concept of density and measured volumes and mass in order to calculate density of different objects. Next week they will be working on my "Unknown Specimen Lab" in which they will determine the density of nine blocks and determine from what material they are made of. More to follow.

Below are some pictures of measuring lab specimens.

Finding the mass of a block.

"I know our calculations are correct".

"What do you think it measures"?

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 11 - 17

Students have been working on metric units this past week and in the upcoming week will be introduced to the Triple Beam Balance and they will learn how to operate it in relation to the mass of objects.

During the Open House Curriculum Night this week at Lakeview, Mrs. Snodgrass and her twin Mr. Urbas are seen posing for the upcoming "Twin days".

Urbas - Science Week of Sept. 4 - 10.

Students have been busy this week with metric measurements and working on area problems. They will be using these units throughout their years at Lakeview and beyond.

This week they are adding volume measurements and will be working on labs that require them to make accurate measurements in centimeters and millimeters. The big assignment this week will be to determine the volume of our classroom. Stay tuned.

Urbas - Science Week of August 28 - Sept. 3

Welcome Back students! I hope your summer was fun and you all had a great time. School is back and I will weekly update this Blog to keep you up with current events in 6th grade and other items of interest.

The start of the year is always exciting and I have an extra credit possibility available this weekend. You and your parents can go to Argonne National labs on Saturday and take in the exhibits. Go to this site for more info:


The Argonne Open House is Saturday August 29, 9:00 – 4:30.
http://www.anl.gov/Community_and_Environment/Open_House.html

To receive extra credit, you must bring in some proof that you attended the open house on Saturday to me next week.

Urbas - Science 5/29 - 6/5

Students are working with maps and compasses and have been learning about direction. They have been making their own maps and tests for other students and learning about how to give and take directions. Next week they will continue to work with their compasses and will be trying to follow an orienteering course.

Urbas - Science 5/15

Students have finished their study of the universa and next week will begin the study of maps and topogrqaphy with the use of compass's. They will be learning the use of map and compass and will be working toward being proficient in orienteering.

Urbas Science Week of May 8 - 14

Students have been working with the concepts of stars and astronomy for the past few weeks. This week they will be entering the Starlab Dome in class and seeing the universe in a new way.

Urbas - Science Week of May 1 - 7

Students are continuing their investigations of the universe and have made a star finder to help them identify constellations in the night sky. They will be measuring the distance to stars this week using a technique known as parallax and will be adopting their own constellations.

The picture at the left is of two distant galaxies.

Urbas - Science Week of April 24 - 30

Students are continuing their investigations of stars and the universe. This week they will learn how to find the north star and be able to identify several constellations in the night sky. They are also learning about the myths that various groups have surrounded the constellations with.

Urbas - Science Week of April 17 - 23

Students have finished their water and soil investigations and will be starting to explore the stars this week.

Urbas - Science Week of April 9 - 16

Students have begun their studies of water. Topics that will be covered include conservation, resources, and pollution. It promises to be an interesting week.

Urbas - Science Week of March 27 - April 9

Students this week finished their investigations of Light and Color and it is currently Spring Break. I hope you all enjoy the week off.





When we return students will be studying water and what it does. Sounds all wet.





Below is a picture of students in action using a simple telescope they assembled this week.

They are trying to read a sign posted on the other side of the room. What they are really saying though is I can see Friday now!

Urbas - Science Week of March 20 - 26

Students this week have been working with the concept of Light and in these photos are using prisms to break white light into its component colors of the spectrum.

The rainbow on the page.

Can you see the color yet?

Hey, get out of my light!

Students who want to see the International Space Station can access the following website.

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/sightings

Color & Light Test of Friday 3/27 Know the following:

- Reflection and Refraction

- EM Spectrum

- Wave characteristics

- Speed of Light

- Absorption and Transmission

- AM & FM

- Frequency & Wavelength

- Colors of Light

- Colors of Pigments

- Roy G Biv

- Telescope types

- Lenses and Mirrors

- Luminous and Illuminated

- Parts of the Eye

- Directed Reading Worksheets

Urbas - Science Week of March 13 - 19

Students have just finished a set of four experiments based on the career of Nikola Tesla. The four included one on the subject of refraction and three on magnetism and electricity. the students did the experiments in order to solve a problem in order to submit an answer at the end of the series. More information to follow at a later date.

It really does spin!

Urbas - Science Week of March 6 - 12

Students are currently working on experiments based on the work of Nikola Tesla and A/C.

Next week they will be finishing their experiments and submitting an answer to a problem to the American Physical Society.

On Wednesday they will continue their investigations of Color & Light with investigations of the speed of light and lenses.

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 27 - March 5

Student this week are taking their ISAT tests as mandated by the state. Since this causes major changes in the schedule and their lives, I have started a program run by the American Physical Society. Last year it involved Marie Currie and her experiments and this year the set of four experiments revolve around Nikola Tesla and his experiments with A/C. Should be fun.

I also want to congratulate the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Team of Ammar Kalimullah, Dhara Puvar, Connor Bailey, and Morgan Krause on their Third Place finish this past Saturday at Argonne National Labs. Great Job!

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 20 - 26

Students are continuing their investigations of Color and Light and in the upcoming week will be working with colors of visible light and colors in pigment form. They will also investigate shaows and calculate just what is a Light Year.

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 13 - 19

Students have begun their study of Color and Light this week and have begun to see the light.

They will be investigating shadows and colors in the upcoming week.

Check out the site below for an inaugural photo in which faces can be seen exceptionally clearly.


http://gigapan.org/viewGigapanFullscreen.php?auth=033ef14483ee899496648c2b4b06233c

Urbas - Science Week of Feb. 6 - 12

Students are finishing their tower constructions and several can be seen below. The towers will be tested to see if they can withstand an earthquake of Mr. Urbas's making.

These engineering drawings are tough!

Who does your decorating?

I say it's leaning to the left because you both are looking to the left.

"V" for victory!

The results of the tests will be published next week, stay tuned!

Earthquake Test Friday 2/13

Subjects covered:

Earth's Layers and Characteristics

Pangaea

Tectonic Plates

Fault types

Stress Types

P 7 S Waves

Epicenter and Focus

Richter Scale

Urbas Science Week of January 30 - February 5

Students have been introduced to the my Earthquake Simulator in the classroom and are currently working in their groups to come up with ideas to solve the problem of how to defeat my machine. Good Luck!

There is a picture of what the unit looks like posted below and at my suggestion students can bring in their own Carpenters or wood glue to use, no other kind. They can also bring in the very small clothespin clamps that are available at the dollar stores. That will help in construction.

For a little something to do during this nice cold winter, check the link below.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1405753,toboggan-sleds-cook-county-ebay-sold-out-013009.article

Urbas - Science Week of January 23 - 29

Students this week will be modeling faults and doing a lab on finding the epicenter of an earthquake. They will also examine ocean floor spreading and on Friday they will begin their planning and construction of a tower to try to withstand Mr. Urbas's infamous Earthquake Machine.

Urbas - Science Week of January 16 - 22

This has been a very long week at Lakeview with IOWA tests and the weather. The tests were the easy part it seems but Mother Nature it seems was trying to conspire to make our lives miserable. The temperature, snow, and wind chill made for an interesting few days.

Students are continuing their investigations of Plate Tectonics and the upcoming week will have them identifying earthquake waves and trying to determine the location of an earthquake.

Urbas - Science week of January 9 - 15

Students are studying the Earth and its faults.

Can you identify the fault below?

Urbas - Science week of Jan 5 - 8

Welcome back to Lakeview after our extended break. I hope everyone is well rested and ready to take on new challenges. In Science currently, we have wrapped up our study of machines and motion and now will be focusing on the Earth and what affects it. We are starting on earthquakes and the makeup of the Earth itself.