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012601 Mount Kisco Elementary holds science exposition
Mount Kisco Elementary School celebrated science in mid-December with a fifth grade science exposition. Students in the fifth grade had been learning about the work of engineers — how they design, test and redesign models in order to learn more about constructing machines and other projects. Parents, teachers and other students were invited to the exposition to see the models and designs created by the experts themselves — the fifth graders.
Through a series of simulations, students used their senses to develop hypotheses about the contents of sealed "black boxes," drawing conceptual models of what they thought might be inside. They also built physical models to help them understand and explain their ideas. Then they designed, built, tested and redesigned machines and carts to fit certain specifications.
Through their work the students found out a great deal about how real scientists work: They must continually reexamine and refine their ideas based on new information. Students discovered about such principles as friction, traction, tension and propulsion as well as how creating simple machines helps build more complex ones. With this new knowledge they were able to improve upon their contraptions and carts.
In one simulation, students were asked to work cooperatively to build a contraption that could produce a "humming" sound and a "dinging" sound when a string was pulled. They were given a specific set of materials to use to accomplish this task. Students engaged in critical thinking, problem solving, extensive communication and cooperative learning to arrive at their "humdinger" models. As they shared ideas with one another, they refined their contraptions and reached consensus on design. Incorporating vocabulary such as force, lever and amplification, the students recorded their findings in their science journals and drew diagrams of their "humdingers" to reflect on their work.
Another task the children had to complete was to create a self-propelled cart that could perform a specific trick, such as roll in a complete circle or bob up and down while traveling on a flat surface.
The science exposition on Dec. 13 and 14 was the culmination of all the work students did during this unit. They presented their finished products to all who attended, and they allowed visitors to try some of the challenges with which they were faced.