Use of the scale, clock, tape measure and thermomter

This week we have focused on reading the scale, clock, tape measure and thermometer. We focus on reading the number on the scale including the decimal. We practice counting by two's on the thermometer. We practice counting by 5's on the clock. On the tape measure we practice how to read the inches and feet and how to convert inches to feet and feet to yards.
We tie into what is a half when we are performing agility drills. We ask the students how far is halfway, a quarter, 3 quarters, etc. Next is to tie that in with the decimal system. We also need to ask the students to estimate how far in feet is halfway, etc.

Gravity, Potential and Kinetic Energy

We have been talking about gravity for the last couple of weeks. This week we used the standing long jump and the running long jump to demonstrate gravity, momentum, potential and kinetic energy. We started with showing the students how to perform the standing long jump. This is where we introduced potential energy-when the jumper was flexed and ready this is kinetic and when the jumper actually jumps is where the kinetic energy is released. We had a person to act as marker. That person used a baton to mark where the jumper's heel landed. We then asked the question,"How do we know how far the jumper went?" We then introduced the tape measure. We showed the students how to read the tape measure. The first day of measuring we rounded the number to the nearest foot. We then started using inches and then using feet and inches for the upper grades. We repeated this process for the running long jump. The students were able to get a running start of 10 yeards. We asked hot questions such as,"When will we be able to jump further? With standing or running?" This is where we introduced momentum.
The upper grade students had to provide the average of the 3 jumps. The division had to be checked by multiplication.

Gravity- Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump

This week we talked about gravity and it's effect on the vertical and broad jump. We began with a demonstration of gravity using a large object(a basketball) and a small object(rock). We demonstrated how gravity pulls on large and small objects the same. We introduced Newton's 1st law of motion and talked about how gravity pulls us down. We talked about using the scale to measure how much gravity is pulling us down to the earth. We then talked about how we can overcome gravity by using our muscles and then we could measure that using the vertical jump.
We reviewed how to read a ruler and scale. We used both yard and meter stick. This week we rounded our numbers to the nearest inch. Next week we will round to the nearest half inch. On the scale we rounded to the nearest pound.
We demonstrated how to perform the vertical jump test. We then let the students perform the test on each other. They were instructed to get 3 vertical jump measurements. Their journal entries had to include inches, cm's. Their weight entry must include pounds.
We then introduced the standing broad jump. We instructed the students on how to perform the jump correctly and how to measure the distance. Their journal entry had to include 3 jump measurements and their weight.