Take a peek inside one of our elementary math/science classes. Teacher Jon is teaching Arithmetic Atmosphere this trimester. As with most of our Elementary and Middle School classes, subjects are taught in connection with multiple subjects. In our adult life we rarely go “learn math” but rather we use math to solve problems. In the class below Teacher Jon uses the hands-on lessons (see video below) as well as traditional methodology to allow students to become scientists and use their gained math skills to solve sustainability issues. In this experiment specifically, students melted ice using their hands in one group and their hands and salt in another group. This ties into our Arithmetic Atmospheres class describing how ice melts faster in the presence of salt, which is what is happening to glaciers melting in saltwater, which is exacerbated by global warming. A hands-on demonstration of the impact of climate change on glaciers and ice. We also discussed how humans can work with nature to solve our problems, like making it safe for people to drive on roads in the winter. By understanding that salt makes ice melt faster, we can keep roads safer.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Arithmetic Atmospheres
(Mathematics, Science, Literacy)
Teacher Jon
This immersive experience is tailored to young inquisitive minds, eager to unravel the secrets of our planet and beyond. In this course, we will dive further into the dynamic relationship between plants, animals, and their habitats. We will ask and answer questions to unveil the purpose of weather forecasting and its role in preparing for dramatic weather changes. Our young meteorologists will learn to observe the sky and its patterns, predicting weather to stay safe and informed, while first graders will learn to identify patterns in the sky, the reason for seasons, and how these changes impact various biomes. Sustainability is at the heart of our journey and our eco-warriors will communicate innovative solutions to reduce human impact on nature, learning the value of conservation through engaging activities like recycling and responsible resource use, by creating informative artwork to display in the halls at school about the power of taking care of our planet.
We will continue our exploration of common core math throughout this course, using our numbers, shapes, time, and pattern knowledge to further our positive impact on having an eco-warrior-friendly campus.
Experiment: What Material Is Best For Insulating Ice??
Team Bubblewrap!
Team Towel!
Team Foil and Experiment Conclusion!
But aluminum foil isn’t a good insulator. I think a more quantitative measure is needed such as the weight of ice before and after.