Matter and mass

Today we entered into the realm of chemistry! We began about matter, atoms, mass and weight, using snow as an example substance because it shifts very easily between the three states of matter: solid snow, liquid water, and gaseous vapor. To demonstrate this, we heated snow to melting, then boiled the resulting water, and I held a metal sheet containing more snow above it to show how the vapor turned back into beads of liquid water when the cold metal sheet reduced its temperature.

We also discussed how if they were on the moon or one of the other planets their weight will be different because the gravity is different, which is based on the planet's mass. The homework for this week is a sheet to work out their weight on the moon and the various planets of the solar system. This site lists the proportional gravity of the different planets and calculates weight for them. You could also have your kid search out this information themselves if you feel they're up to it.

A number of kids left their sheet behind. We'll be open 4:00-8:00 Wednesday, 4:00-6:30 Thursday and 4:00-8:00 Friday if you want to drop by, otherwise they can pick it up when they come to class again next week.