What's the Matter?

We've been studying about the different kinds of matter. We did an experiment with hot water and ice. The screen on the top of the bottle helped to create "Fog in a Bottle."

First we heated the water, then put the ice on top and waited. Then the fog came throught the holes in the screen and around the ice. Really cool!

In Science we've been learning about kinds of matter: solid, liquid, gas. We did an experiment with hot water and ice and watched water droplets form inside the jar. We made rain!

Last week we made lemonade with lemons, ice, water and a little sugar which dissolved in the water. When we stirred everything up, we each had a nice cup of lemonade.

The pictures below were all made from salt dissolved in a bit of water. We painted the salt on the picture with a cotton swab.

Look for examples of solid, liquid and gas all around you. Don't forget; you are made of matter.

Meet Our New Class Pets

Here are our worms. They arrived at our classroom and we needed to make a new home for them.

First we looked them over to see if they were in good shape.

We saw worm of all sorts and sizes. These are Red Wiggler Worms. They are the best worms for soil composting.

We made a chart to tell why worms would be a good kind of class pet.

Here are they supplies needed to put our worm farm together. A large insulated cooler, lots of newspaper and some good peat moss (which is a dry soil).

Step 1 Tear up lots of newspaper.

Everyone got to tear up newspaper.

Tearing was a fun job.

Step 2 Load the bottom of the cooler with shredded newspaper.

Push the paper down so more will fit.

Add more paper.

Then, add more paper.

Step 3 Put a layer of peat moss over the newspaper. It really helps to spead out the soil evenly.

Step 3 Add the worms. Step 4 Add some water. Step 5 Add some lettuce so the worms have everything they need in their new habitat.

*Here is an update. Since we put together our worm farm we taken good care of them. Worms love healthy food so we've given them carrots, celery, apples and bananas. They are an especially quiet kind of pet. We know they like their new home because the food we give them is disappearing and the dry soil is beginning to change. We love our worm farm. You are welcome to stop by and see them.

We are taking good care of our class pets.

The worms are taking good care of us too, they are fun to watch they are making us good soil for our garden.

Meet Our New Class of Students

The New Stars in Second Grade 2-1

Look at these terrific kids. These are our new shining stars in Second Grade. Everyone is excited about the new school year. We have stars all over our classroom, we made stars, we ate stars, we talked about how stars are all different, but each one is special. Take a look at our special stars.

We read the story,The Principal's New Clothes. Each student designed some new duds for Mr. Smith or Ms Rippy. Here is our creative collection.

A nice big skateboard for Mr. Smith and I think I see some fangs!

Here Mr. Smith is riding a skateboard, playing golf, and wearing an Abe Lincoln hat.
Ms Rippy has a lovely dress with a big rose and a very colorful dress and pant outfit.

Pick out the outfit that Mr. Smith would wear to drive a train and one showing him as a robot.

Some more designer clothes for Ms Rippy and Mr. Smith.

We read a story about a monster who came to school and didn't know how to follow the rules.

The teacher told him he would have to go home, but he liked being at school. We wrote some rules for the monster to follow and drew pictures. Here are some of the monster pictures.

Our first week at school went great! We learned not to be monsters. We have a very nice class and I am looking forward to a wonderful year in Second Grade.