One of the main goals of science at the middle school level is to provide a solid foundation of scientific concepts, vocabulary, and skills so that students can confidently understand the world around them to ask deeper, meaningful, and more connecting questions in highschool and beyond. This year, students have been learning about structures, and simple machines as they move forward in the building of the PNA greenhouse (a PBL project with Mr. Johnson).

Before the Covid quarantine disruption, students had been building “Nifty Lifters” under a standard set of criteria.  Basically, they needed to build a device that used two simple machines to lift a 600 gram soup can 5cm in height.  Their devices needed to use as little input force as possible – revealing the mechanical advantage of the machines.

To get a better handle on the true mechanical advantages of simple machines, our class did a number of labs.  Investigative labs are particularly fun for students but they also require using a set protocol following the scientific method.  As a class, we are working to understand how to write clear conclusions that use real results as the evidence behind the learning.

Most of the time, science lab experiments are done with one or two partners. Often, partners have to divy up the tasks to be able to complete the lab on time.  Students check their work with one another, ask questions and explain what they witnessing out loud to clarify for themselves or help each other.

(While students may have to work closely with one another and share materials during these labs, they are required to wash their hands afterward and add any group materials to the sanitation bin for Covid – 19 precautions.)

Fun-Yes!
Solidifying Science Skills and Concepts-Yes!
Technical Informational Writing – Yes!
Many science labs also capture the essence of most 21st Century Skills:

• Collaboration and teamwork
• Creativity and imagination
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Flexibility and adaptability

• Information literacy

• Oral and written communication skills
• Technology literacy
• Initiative

Here’s to a whole year of science ahead!
​(For photos of students working on these labs, see previous blogs.)