Weaving/Exploring Sawdust and Wood Shavings

During math we worked on patterning by weaving with construction paper. Students were able to experience tactile as well as a visual that helps promote patterning, hand-eye coordination, and directionality.  Here are a few pictures from our weaving experience (you can click on the picture to enlarge)...

In science the kiddos got to explore the difference between sawdust and wood shavings. They first investigated the two separately and then mixed them together to find out that the sawdust sunk to the bottom of the cup while the wood shavings came to the top. We then put the mixture into water and observed what happened. Students made claims that the wood began to sink because of the weight on the top of it, because it was being spun around by their stir stick, and because it was becoming wet from the water it was sitting in. We came to the conclusion that waterlogged wood eventually sinks to the bottom. After this discussion we separated the wood from the water by straining it.