What Does It Matter?

Sounds like a hopeless title. It's not because we have the certain hope of a place in heaven! We have that promise from our risen Savior and there is certainly no doubt about our future with Him!

As for the scientific definition of matter, Miss Rosenbaum's Gr. 2 class should be able to tell you that matter is something that "TAKES UP SPACE!!!" We have spent one week learning about the different states of matter. This next week we will review... But! The academic highlights from this scintillating subject include oobleck and song.

Oobleck - originally a character from a Dr. Suess book, now a common primary school science experiment. What is oobleck? you ask. I'll tell you! 2 parts cornstarch, 1 part water (food coloring if you dare)... mix it all together and what do you get?! A substance that can flow like a liquid but when poked or acted on by a force, acts like a solid. Which is it? Neither! It is a non-newtonian fluid. Not that you cared, but now you know. Very easy to make and quick to clean up. It is also very amusing to play with.

Song - below you will find the song our class has learned to help us remember details about the 3 states of matter. It is to the tune, "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes". I will admit some of the lines are a little awkward, but hopefully in the years to come, my students will recall this song with fondness and a growing understanding about that weird subject Miss Rosenbaum kept going on about...

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

Solid, liquid, and gas, you don’t even need to ask,

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

First a solid never changes in its shape (clap, clap, clap)

They stay firm, never flow, they’re really great (clap, clap, clap)

You can see them all around you, and I’m sure they will astound you

Solid matter can be found in any place (clap, clap, clap)

Next the liquids flow into the space they find (clap, clap, clap)

They don’t keep their shape, but we don’t really mind (clap, clap, clap)

Some are wet and some are slimy, now there’s no need to be whiny

Liquid matter is a very slippery kind (clap, clap, clap)

Last, not least, we have the gases, and you know (clap, clap, clap)

It’s impossible to hold them, even so (clap, clap, clap)

You can smell them, sometimes see them, and can definitely breathe them,

Gaseous matter can be felt when wild winds blow (clap, clap, clap)

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

Solid, liquid, and gas, you don’t even need to ask,

There are three states of matter, yes there are! (clap, clap, clap)

The liquid and gas begin to mix more and more as the humidity rises here on the island. I am grateful school is drawing to a close for the simple fact that soon it will be very uncomfortable to stay in a classroom all day. But it will be a bittersweet ending...