Despite more snowy weather, the JDC had their second meeting yesterday in Dr. Wang's Classroom at Springside. First thing that we did was to examine the "mystery seeds" from last week. What a surprise! Most, but not all of the seeds, had germinated into seedlings. Dr. Wang kept the paper towels in the petri dishes moist all week and the plants had started to grow, The junior detectives had a lot of excellent observations and questions such as:
1. Why was there gray fuzzy mold on some of the seeds?
2. Why didn't all of the seeds germinate?
3. Some of the seed shells were stuck on the leaves of the baby plants. How would they come off and when?
3. Some of the seed shells were stuck on the leaves of the baby plants. How would they come off and when?
Next we planted the seedlings into fresh potting soil mixed with sand and vermiculite. The silvery vermiculite was there to give the soil more air pockets to allow their roots to have oxygen from the air.
PLANTING THE SEEDLINGS INTO SOIL
NEXT TIME QUESTIONS:
1. How big will the seeds be next week (they are less than half an inch now)?
2. Will we be able to tell which is which? (carrot, basil, sunflower seed, zinnia etc?)
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We then started: THE CASE OF THE TRACE EVIDENCE:
What is TRACE EVIDENCE??
....one of the first things that happens at a real crime scene is that police need to keep curious spectators from walking on or near it. This is because of trace evidence (soil particles, fibers from clothing, fingerprints, hair - really really small stuff) is so critical to solving the crime.
whenever an individual is in a particular place like you on your bed. Part of you says at the scene, like your hair on the pillow and part if the scene goes with you, like blanket fuzz from your blanket or cat hair from your cat that sleeps with you. By carefully examining the trace evidence, detectives can tell a story or paint an imaginary picture of what may have happened in a place and who may have been there.
TRACE EVIDENCE COLLECTION GEAR:
During the second half of class, we got our trace collecting gear (see picture above) and took a trip to the Springside Upper School Library to gather trace evidence there.
Ask your junior detective what they found from this list:
- a bug
- tiny round paper bits
- pink and red flower petals
- popcorn
- hair
- snack crumbs
We determined that even though the students are not SUPPOSED to eat in the library, the trace evidence would suggest that they do!!!
Science CHAT:
About Guinea Pigs
We also chatted about Dr. Wang's classroom guinea pigs- who are in cages in the back of the room. Their names are Cinnabon, Lunny and Chester and they were adopted from the SPCA back in September. Cinnabon likes to whistle when we are in class bc he knows that when he does this in the morning I will bring them treats. Maybe you already know this, but guinea pigs communicate with each other and with humans using a variety of sounds. Visit this link to hear three different guinea pig sounds, and visit the SPCA or animal shelter near you, if you and your family would like to adopt a wonderful pet!
Click here to learn more about Guinea Pig Sounds and Behavior
NEXT WEEK:
We examine the trace evidence under light microscopes and we begin our next CASE
WHOSE FINGER PRINTS ARE WHOSE?
Is it true that your fingerprints are exactly like your parents?????
Watch this 5 min MythBusters Episode segment about Fingerprinting to get ready for
next week's fun:
Junior Detectives Hard At Work!!
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