SOLAR SYSTEM

We have spent quite a bit of time looking at and learning about cycles here on earth. Lets broaden our horizons and take a trip through our Solar System. Your student will soon be an astronomy genius. Join in and have some fun!

Lets start this unit off by taking a look at this site from NASA, it is full of games and activities for you and your student. http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/sse_flipflop.shtml

Now that you have had some time to brush up on your outter space knowledge take some time and see if you and your student can build a rocket that will fly. Bring it to school with a write-up of all the sucesses and failures that you experienced while completing this task for a 100 bonus points. Here are a couple of sites to help you along your journey. http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/rocket.shtml
http://space.about.com/od/activities/ss/bottlerocket.htm
Here is another site that will help you understand all the parts of a rocket, how they work together, and there important functions. You will build a rocket here but it only on the computer. http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/RocketScience101/RocketScience101.html

How did it go?

Hopefully you have learned quite a bit about our solar systems so lets play a matching game. See how high you can score on this game? Can you beat your student? http://justkidsgames.com/play.php?AstraMatch




Coach Moffett
john.moffett@amaisd.org

Rock Cycle

Lets stay with our cycle theme and become a ROCK HOUND. At the end of this unit your student will be able to teach you all about the three types of rocks and how they are formed.

Three types of rocks: Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous. But lets start with a basic overview of the rock cycle. Now that you have had the opportunity to look over and review the rock cycle for just a second see how fast you can get the pictures and labels in the correct place. Ready? Good Luck! http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/rocks/games/level2.htm

How did you do? Let me know.

Ok you and your student have been working hard. How about some extra credit? Use the following link to a scavenger hunt. Help your student complete the paper (you will need to print it). Bring it and one example of each rock to me for 100 bonus points! http://www.whps.org/school/websterhill/library/scavenger%20hunts/Rocks%20and%20Minerals%20Scavenger%20Hunt.htm

Coach Moffett
john.moffett@amaisd.org

Groundwater, surface water, and their relationship

Your student will soon know the difference between groundwater, surface water and how they work together.

Now that you know the water cycle...... Lets talk about ground water like; What is it? Do we use it? How do we get to it or better yet how do we get it to us? Well I am glad you asked, here is a fun activity for you and your student to do. Make your own Aquifer. Let me know what you think! How about surface water? First lets define it: surface water is water collecting on the ground or in a stream, river, pond, lake, sea, or ocean. Lets get outside!

- Take your student to an area that has surface water

- Make a drawing of the area

- See how many areas of life you can identify that are affected by this surface water

- How did the water get there

- Is the water safe for human use

- Have fun. Who can make the better list and drawing?

Look at this water treatment facility. Discuss with your student how this occurs in nature.

Test your knowledge: How much water does each of these activities require?

Coach Moffett
john.moffett@amaisd.org

Water Cycle

At the end of this unit your student will be able to tell you all the parts of the water cycle and how it is linked to weather.

It is amazing the roll that this cycle plays in our life that we all tend to overlook and take for granted. Here are some questions for you to think about as you go through these activities: Is there a start/end to the cycle? What is precipitaion? What causes water to evaporate and then condense? What happens to the precipitation after it reaches earth? Let Thirsten help you with this. Using the earthguide diagram see how water cycle savvy you are, going through the tabs on left of the diagram before you take the quiz will be a great help. Now that you know all about the water cycle see if you can determine where the water will evaporate the fastest from at fossweb.

Coach Moffett
john.moffett@amaisd.org

Welcome

Dear Parents:

I hope you and your student are ready for an exciting year of Science. We will be studying a variety of Science concepts. I look forward to this exciting adventure that will expand the science world to you and your child! As you go through the activities with your student please tell us what you think. This will be open to all of my students and their parents. The more we communicate the more fun we will have and the more we will learn. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to shape your child's life and view of Science.

If at anytime you have questions, comments, or concerns please email me at john.moffett@amaisd.org