So how is it that we see an object?  What has to be present in order for us to know what is there?  To see its colors?  

Sixth graders are using light boxes to establish the conditions for sight.  Keeping the box closed, students discovered that they couldn't see anything in the box.  Once the flap was opened, they could see the small toy that Mrs. Brinza put inside.

We'll be using these ideas to continue to ask questions just like real scientists do, as well as begin to develop a working model for this phenomenon.  

Sixth graders have kicked off their chemical science unit for the year, focusing on the Driving Question, "Can I Believe My Eyes?"

Students set up their Scientific Principles page, which will summarize all their scientific findings throughout the unit.  They also began thinking about the Driving Question for the unit by examining different optical illusions, asking new questions about seeing, light, and color.  Student groups posted these new questions on our Driving Question Board for the unit.  We will refer back to this board frequently!

Check out one class' shared slides presentation that they put together during a technology period on optical illusions.  What questions come to mind when you look at these images?