Dear Parents,

                 

As you know, science, technology and engineering are basic skills expected by employers. As Twenty First Century citizens, these students will also have to make some of the toughest decisions of any generation, based on their understanding of emerging science and technology. Science fairs involve students in the practices of science and engineering, requiring them to apply those skills to a topic of interest to them. Hands-on Science is key to understanding science concepts.

Our school is holding a science fair on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 and all students in grades K-5 have been invited to participate.   Please note that the project will be done at home.  Work should be self-directed.  Parents are encouraged to offer emotional support and reminders, but please allow children to do the projects by themselves. 

Each science fair project must consist of a student-led scientific investigation (following the scientific method) and a display to present the investigation results to judges and other science fair attendees.

·         Volcanoes will not be accepted as experiments

·         No Mold Projects will be allowed

·         Balloons and other latex materials may be used and photographed, but cannot be brought to school to display. 

·         Live animals can be used but cannot be harmed or brought to school

All students in grades K-2 will receive certificates of participation and have the opportunity to present their projects.  Students in Grades 3-5 will be judged according to a provided rubric.  Three top-place science fair winners (grades 3-5) from each school are qualified to participate in the district science fair. 

If your child would like to participate in the Science Fair, we ask that you please return the participation form below by Friday, October 21, 2011.  Students who sign up to participate will receive a copy of the full guidelines. 

Don’t hesitate to call or email with any questions. Thank you for your support!! 

Colleen Cauffiel, MEd

Science Teacher, Ford Elementary School

Colleen.Cauffiel@cobbk12.org

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Science Olympiad at Ford Elementary School

This year Ford Elementary School will be starting a Science Olympiad Team.  If your child is in grades 3-5 and has an interest in joining the team, please download an application using the sidebar link or see Mrs. Cauffiel in the Science Lab.  Applications are due by September 16th, 2011. 

Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 18 team events in each division.   Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology.  By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved.  Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation.  Through Science Olympiad, students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders bond together and work toward a shared goal.
Teamwork is a required skill in most scientific careers today, and Science Olympiad encourages group learning by designing events that forge alliances.   Each school-based team is allowed to bring 15 students who cross-train for a variety of events in their skill set.

Welcome Back!!

I'm so excited to see all of my little scientists and hear all about their summer adventures!  I'm looking forward to a GREAT year!!   I'm excited to annouce that the Ford Foundation will be hosting a schoolwide Science Night on October 4th- please save the date!  We will also be starting a Science Olympiad Team for 3-5th graders, stay tuned for more information. 

To prepare for Science Lab:

• Students should wear tennis shoes on Science Lab days since we often go outdoors
• Students will need one folder (any color)

Supply Wish List:

Old magazines that are science, animal or nature oriented
Old Lego blocks


Thank you for your continued support!!

Spring in the Science Lab

I cannot believe how quickly this year has passed by.  Thank you to all of our Ford Families who have donated to support our Science Lab either through donations, brick purchases, or the Boosterthon.  I am  always so mindful of the sacrifices that many of you make to give your kids this learning opportunity and I strive to give them the best possible experience in Science Lab. I appreciate your volunteer time, your enthusiasm, and your financial contributions.  I am inspired every day by my students' enthusiasm and excitement for learning.  I hope that my " little scientists" have had as much fun learning as I have!!  Here are a few highlights of the spring:

In February, we had an AMAZING turnout for our first Science Night!  We estimated that over 300 students and their families attended.  There were 25 interactive learning stations that included microscopes, senses, plants, wildlife, oobleck, and environmental science.  A great big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us!!  We will host another Science Night in the fall.  Stay tuned for details!! 

In March, we hosted our first Science Fair.  We brought in 5 outside judges to evaluate each project. The students did an amazing job at answering their questions and explaining their projects. Congratulations to the following winners:

Kindergarten-

3^rd Place- Sean Cauffiel “Which shape makes the biggest bubble?”

2^nd Place- JC Payton “Jupiter’s Moons”

1^st Place- Evan Cole “What’s the Best Way to Clean-up oil?”

1^st Grade

3^rd Place- Audrey Gravina- “Volcanoes”

2^nd Place- Margaret Anderson- “Volcanoes”

1^st Place-  Drew Zoblisein – “Volcanoes”

2^nd Grade

3^rd Place- Isabela Brown-  “What cleans a penny best?”

Tie 1^st Place- Chloe Rogers- “ Keeping it chill”

                Ben Van Rensselaer- “Is heaviest fastest?”

3^rd Grade

3^rd Place- Elli McElhannon/Kaitlyn Ketch- “Magnets”

1^st Place-  Jean Kallenburg (tie)- “Apple Decomposition”

                   Katie Cauffiel (tie)- “Which cooler works best?”

4^th Grade

3^rd Place- Katey Derkay-”Where does the water go after a plant is watered?”

2^nd  Place- Keegan Kalafut-  “Kooky Kakes”

1^st Place- Travis Brock- “Temperature”

5^th Grade

Gwendolyn Henry- Pe rfect Score!  1^st Place “Are the chemical properties of baking powder and baking soda interchangeable when examined in baking recipes?”

Spring Lessons-

Kindergarten- We examined soil and found many little critters and worms among the broken-down living materials, rocks, sticks, seeds and pine needles.  We looked at different types of leaves and used a dissecting microscope to examine them up close.  Some students even found insect eggs on their leaves!! We also planted sunflower seeds and watched them grow.

First Grade-We've been studying animals and their habitat needs.  We studied earthworms and learned why they are important to Earth.  We also learned about the parts of plants and why plants are important.  We also planted vegetables in our new math garden.  We'll finish up the year with an insect study.

Second Grade-  We finished up our astronmy unit by making toothpick and mini-marshmellow constellations and used Oreo cookies to show the phases of the moon.  We wrapped  up our year-long study on the seasonal changes of trees.  We started our unit on Life Cycles by learning about the life cycles of butterflies and frogs.   We also planted sunflower seeds and are recording the changes in a journal.

Third Grade- Our main focus has been on the 5 ecoregions of Georgia.  Students worked together to make posters that showed the wildlife in each region.  They have also constructed a field guide that shows trees commonly found in Georgia.  Students will be using this field guide to identify trees on our school grounds.  We will finish up the year with biodiversity.

Fourth Grade-After wrapping up astronomy, we moved on to ecosystems.  Students made a web using yarn that showed how animals and plants are all dependent on others.  Students also did a eco-scavenger hunt on the nature trail to highlight the ecosystems in our own area.  The highlight was dissecting owl "barf" pellets and finding skulls, jaws, ribs, and other bones from rodents that owls had consumed.  We will finish up the year with adaptations.

Fifth Grade- We had a GREAT experience with electricity and circuits.  Students did an amazing job of building series and parallel circuits and constructing an electromagnet.  We moved on to my favorite part of Science- microbiology!!  Students examined fresh pond water under microscopes and saw plants, animals, and protists.   It was great fun to see tiny worms munching on plants under the mircoscopes.  We had a great time discussing good and bad bacteria and how they are spread!  We will finish up the year genetic traits. 

I can't wait until NEXT YEAR when we kick-off Science Olympiad for 3-5th grade students, host Science Night in the fall, and continue to grow our Science Fair!!  I hope that you are just as excited as I am!!! 

Ready! Set! Experiment!

Ford Family Mad Science Night

Make plans to join us on Tuesday, February 8th for the First Annual Ford Family Mad Science Night, sponsored by the Ford ES Foundation.
Students will be able to participate in fun-filled Science Lab Stations, specific to their grade level, tour the Science Lab and learn how to participate in the Science Fair.

What:  Mad Science Night
When: Tuesday, February 8th -  6:30 to 8 p.m.
Where:  Ford Elementary School

Why attend?
1. The evening will be educational, fun and hands-on
2. Get more details how to participate in the upcoming Science Fair (award winners will be announced at Curriculum Night in March!)
3. Learn how Ford's focus on science has impacted test scores
4. Find out how you can support science and technology at Ford Elementary

Most of all, science is...cool, electrifying and, well, just lots of fun!
You don't want to miss this awesome family-friendly event!  Stay tuned for more details.

Happy New Year!!

It's been a GREAT first week back from Winter Break.  The kids are well-rested and ready to learn!!

During the next nine weeks, we will be covering the following:

K- We will be using our five senses to sort different objects based on what they are made of.  We will be learning about different earth materials- rocks, soil, sand.  We will also look at the characteristics of living and non-living things.

1st Grade-  We will be learning the basic parts of the plant and doing some experiements with plants to help understand their basic needs.  We will also learn about the basic needs of animals.

2nd Grade- We will study how trees change in teh winter and begin our Astronomy unit by learning about the Stars, Sun, Earth and Moon.

3rd Grade- We will be doing some experiments with thermometers and heat energy.  We will also discover which materials are good conductors and insulators of heat.  After that, we will be learning all about magnets!! 

4th Grade-  We will be "launching" into outer space by studying stars, planets, the earth and moon and how movement in space affects us here on Earth.

5th Grade-  The majority of the next nine weeks will be spent on learning about electricity and magnetism.  Students will be constructing electric circuits and an electromagnet. 


Thank you for your continued support of the Science Lab!! 

"Science That Matters"

In this time of Thanksgiving, I am so thankful to all of the Ford families who sponsored their children during our Boosterthon Fun Run.   Not only was it fun for the kids, but it was truly inspirational to see the determination in our students as they completed their laps.  It truly brought tears to my eyes to see a student with an injury hobble along to finish his laps, and others join hands together and help each other when they were feeling tired.  When I started teaching, I thought that the best part of the job was inspiring kids to learn.  I was wrong.  The best part of the job is how they inspire me with their acts of kindness, their natural curiosity, and their enthusiasm for learning.   

Finally, I am most grateful for the Ford families who find value in what we are doing in the Science Lab.
There was a great editorial article in Scientific American this month that I would like to share with all of you.    " What if U.S. culture finally started admiring and participating in science as an engine of our modern prosperity, instead of holding it on a pedestal apart?  Scientific American recently served as a sponsor for the first national U.S. Science & Engineering Festival in Washington DC, and we've been media partners with the World Science Festival in New York City and others in the past.  What if parents took kids to such festivals and museums as often as they went to ballgames or concerts? Maybe ultimately we could stop bemoaning the drop in science and math scores by U.S. students and our loss in global competiveness, because we'd all appreciate those topics as much as we do fine literature, art and the latest action movie."   I am so appreciative of the overwhelming support that our families give to the Science Lab so that we can continue to give our kids the best possible learning opportunities and prepare them to shape our future for the better.