Wednesday, May 28, 2008

3: Amusement Parks and Science?

Dear all at 5Kindess,

Are you enjoying your holiday so far? As promised, today's topic is relevant to all of us - amusement rides during a fun fair? You might be wondering what Science has got to do with amusement parks. Well, plenty! Ever wondered why roller coaster rides are fun yet scary at the same time? Why is it that when you're at the peak, it always is followed by a rush downwards? And then, it takes a lot of effort to climb back up again? Follow the URL link below and see if you can build a roller coaster ride of your own, online of course!

http://www.learner.org/interactives/parkphysics/coaster.html

Use the Comments function and state what one Science concept you have learnt from this fun activity.

P.S. Hope you have been selling the fun fair coupons!

Love,
Ms. Yeo

Thursday, May 1, 2008

2: I love BrainPop!

Dear all in 5Kindness & Patience,

Here's a treat to a BrainPop movie clip (3.5 min) on food chains and food webs. There are indeed some terms you're unfamiliar with but surely you can recall 'food producers/food consumers/plant-eaters/meat-eaters/plant-and-animal-eaters/decomposers?

Have fun watching it - I did!

P.S.: Take the humour with a pinch of salt, yeah? :)

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/0309/quickflicks/

Love,
Ms. Yeo

1: Transfer of Energy

Dear all from 5Kindness & 5Patience,

Welcome to a new space where learning and sharing take place!

The first entry for this blog has to do with the latest Science topic we have learnt on transfer of energy from one living organism to another. A food web shows how different food chains are linked. A food chain, on the other hand, shows how food producers (i.e. plants) make food during photosynthesis and energy is passed on to other animals.

The following URL is cool! It shows how in different biomes such as deserts and forests have different herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. However, there is a similarity: all animals depend directly or indirectly on plants for energy. The transfer of energy is important to ensure that all living organisms can carry out life processes (remember R.I.D.G.E.R.M.? reproduction, growth, movement and so on...)

http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm

Happy viewing and learning!

Love,
Ms. Yeo