Checkout this Website to Learn Everything About the Eclipse!

https://eclipse.aas.org/eclipse-america

HAVE FUN BUT USE CAUTION!

The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” (example shown at left) or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun; they transmit thousands of times too much sunlight.

NEED GLASSES ? 
South Dale Middle School students will receive glasses free on the day of the eclipse.  Additional glasses are available from Mrs D for $1.00 per pair and all proceeds go to the SDMS Science Club.  

WOW!! Total Eclipse coming on AUGUST 21st - Are you Ready???

SDMS Science Club at Auburn University E-Day - 2017

Going, Going, Gone..... but They'll Be Back!EARN A REWARD!

That beautiful hummingbird that has been visiting the feeder in your backyard has disappeared.  He's actually departed on his annual journey south.

Hummingbirds, and many other bird species migrate each year to friendly climates, moving southward for the winter and returning north for the summer months.

Migration routes for hummingbirds are often more than 2,000 miles!


Scientists learn about bird migration by BANDING as shown in the video below.

EARN A REWARD BY DOING RESEARCH ON BIRD MIGRATION !

Do some research on Hummingbird Migration by checking out this webpage:
LINK - HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATION 

(1) Read to find out the migration route for the Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  (Be careful!  The route that it takes traveling north is different than the route that it takes traveling south.)

(2) Sketch a simple map showing the migration routes for the Ruby Throated Hummingbird and label the northbound route and the southbound route.

(3) Put a star on the map where you believe you might be able to best observe (or catch) hummingbirds so that you can BAND them while they are migrating.

(4) Write down the reason you selected that location.

(5) Turn in your paper to Mrs D to EARN A REWARD!!!

Of Course We Can Design and Build at SDMS !

A bit of tape, some marshmallows and some spaghetti noodles.  Who can turn those simple materials into the highest tower over the next few minutes?......... Ready...... GO!

Do not underestimate the ingenuity of South Dale County Middle Schoolers.  These competitive young scientists conceived design options, experimented, and worked as teams to construct towers while they competed with their classmates.  

• Future architects?  
• Future astronauts?  
• Future car designers?  
• Future heart surgeons?
• Future software designers?

I'm proud of these creative and competitive students!

2nd Greatest Prank in College Football and it was SCIENCE !

On the night before the Yellow Jackets were set to arrive in Auburn for an 1896 game (yes, 1896), Auburn students greased the train tracks leading in and out of the local station. When Georgia Tech's train came into town, it skidded through town and didn't stop for five more miles. The GT football team had to make the trek back to town, then went on to lose, 45-0.  (Thanks to USA Today, 08 March 2013.)

Like this story and want to know more?  Checkout this link!  2nd Greatest Prank

EARN A REWARD: Stop by to see Mrs D and explain (in your own words) how this prank worked! 

EARN A REWARD - Concept Map Swimming

You saw him in the Rio Summer Olympics. Michael Phelps is the winner of 23 Olympic Gold Medals - a feat surpassing all other Olympians. Sixteen years ago, at age 15, Phelps was part of the 2000 US Olympic team (although he did not medal in the 2000 games). So what are the factors associated with being a champion swimmer? Clearly he has a high performing body and mind but what are the specific factors that contribute to propelling your body thru water at a high speed?

EARN A REWARD! 
Draw a concept map including at least 15 elements that contribute to being a champion swimmer.
Your concept map should be drawn on a single sheet of paper.
Turn in your concept map to Mrs D on or before Friday, 02 September and...
EARN A REWARD!

YOUNG SCIENTISTS - WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

PROTOTYPING - This is WAY Cool!

EARN A REWARD ! Use the Scientific Method on Paper Airplanes

Paper airplanes are made out of paper ...... but WHAT KIND OF
PAPER should you select to make  your airplane fly the farthest? 

(1) Compare a piece of copy paper and a piece of construction paper.  Which is heavier?  Which is stiffer?  Which is smoothest?  Which folds the easiest?
WRITE DOWN YOUR OBSERVATIONS.

(2) Based on your observations, which paper would be the best selection for your airplane?
Fill in the blanks to make a hypothesis:  
"IF I build my airplane from ____(type of paper)____, THEN it will fly far because _____________."
WRITE DOWN YOUR HYPOTHESIS.

(3) What experiment could you perform to prove (or dis-prove) your hypothesis?
Fill in the blanks to describe the experiment you wish to perform.
"I will build an airplane out of ____________ and another airplane out of ________________.  
I will fly each airplane ______________ times and measure the distance."
WRITE DOWN YOUR EXPERIMENT.

TURN IN YOUR OBSERVATIONS, HYPOTHESIS, AND EXPERIMENT TO MRS D TO EARN A REWARD!  and ask her to help you conduct your experiment!

PAPER AIRPLANE - the Science (Not Secrets) of How to Fly Far !

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY ?

Your beautiful lawn suddenly has a large dead spot - why why why why why ??  Fortunately you are a scientist and decide to employ the SCIENTIFIC METHOD to get some answers.   Start with making observations and developing questions about the dead spot.  

EARN A REWARD:  Begin your investigation into the dead spot on the lawn by studying the picture and doing some research (by simply talking to a gardener or parent).  On a sheet of paper, write down five observations and five questions you want to ask about the dead spot in the lawn.  Turn in your paper to Mrs D by Friday, 12 August to earn a reward! 




Students from GW Long and Rapaport - email me your observations and questions to adurrance@dalecountyboe.org to earn a reward !

DESIGN - BUILD - TEST ! - "Yes, I am a Rocket Scientist!"

With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, RAPS 4th Science Club celebrated our final meeting with rocket launching.  Students designed, built, and launched their own rockets using a 2-liter plastic bottle and ordinary materials from home.  Having just returned from Johnson Space Center, these students were inspired and ready.  Check out those rockets!

CONGRATULATIONS 4th GRADE SCIENCE CLUB - JOB WELL DONE!

"...One Small Step Off the Bus, One Giant Leap Into Science"

Rapoport 4th Grade Science Students wrapped up a fantastic field trip to Houston.  After our visit and sleepover in the Aquarium, we made it Moody Gardens then headed for Johnson Space Center.  

Truly, hands-on learning is the best!   Students had opportunities to observe sea-life and rain forests, and visit "Mission Control" for the US Space Program.  What a great way to cap off the year!

Thanks to our parents, staff, and sponsors for making this a truly memorable and inspiring event for these young scientists!

FIELD TRIP UPDATE: Being a Scientist is Hard Work - Well, It's Not All Hard Work :)

Raven 4th Graders have been busy in Houston.  This morning started at the Moody Gardens Butterfly Exhibit.  We have already studied about the incredible migration of the monarch butterfly and today students were able to get "up close and personal" with these delicate and amazing animals.


Yes, we are in Texas but Moody Gardens provided an opportunity to travel through a Rain Forest to visit varieties of trees and plants that are rarely seen by Texans.



These scientists do know how to get ready for a full evening of learning at the Space Camp After Dark......  everyone recharged their batteries in the swimming pool then we headed off to Johnson Space Center for Space Camp After Dark.

Rapoport Raven Scientists EXPERIENCE Houston Aquarium, Moody Gardens, Johnson Space Center!

Wow! 25 Rapoport Academey Ravens descended on Houston today to experience Science first hand.

These future scientists, engineers, doctors, and educators will learn about ocean life, plant biology and exploring outer space.

After a long bus ride from Waco to Houston and a busy day learning, these hard-working students are spending the nite IN THE AQUARIUM with the sharks, sting-rays, and lobsters.  (They're not expecting to bump into SpongeBob but..... who knows?)

Tomorrow will be a full day at NASA's "MISSION CONTROL", aka Johnson Space Center!

Thank You Educators Credit Union, Jaden, and All My Rapoport Students !

Challenging Tomorrow’s Scientists to Create, Compete, Collaborate (and HAVE FUN)

The challenge:
- Build the Highest Free-Standing Structure Possible
- Work as a Team
- Use 25 Raw Spaghetti Noodles and Marshmallows
- Have Fun!

Just like building a real tower, this challenge requires young scientists to consider balance, geometry, weight and strength of materials.  

Congratulations to our winning team of Andin,Eli and Mia , who constructed a tower that exceeded 60 centimeters!

SURVIVE OR SPLAT!Thank You Waco Fire Department for Helping Young Scientists Design and Compete

Can you design a device that will protect an egg from a 20 foot fall?
What about a 30 foot fall?
What about a 60 foot fall????  

Rapoport 4th Grade Science Club members were up for the challenge designing and competing to see whose egg would SURVIVE and whose would SPLAT!










In the classroom, students discussed basic physics of on how to design for impact.  Two primary methods were employed in their designs: (1) slow the rate of fall and (2) cushion the egg at impact.

Each student was given basic kit components then allowed to choose a few additional items to include in their own design.  Eggs were placed into each device and then........ they were put to the test!  With the help of the Waco Fire Department and one of their ladder trucks, students were able to test their device.

Eight of the designs were successful at the sixty foot height!  Wow that is REALLY Impressive!
(An object dropped from 60 feet is traveling at 62 miles per hour when it reaches the ground.) 
Students used various design strategies to slow the fall and protect the eggs ensuring they would SURVIVE and not SPLAT.


Congratulations to all of our students for some fantastic designs and thanks to the Waco Fire Department for your encouragement to some future scientists, engineers, doctors, and fire fighters!