May the Forces Be With You  

This year the Bayonne School District Science Department is implementing the Science Dimensions Program in Kindergarten through Grade 8.  Science Dimensions has a number of excellent components that include outstanding online resources.  For example, the You Solve It component works as a virtual lab, allowing students to experience and apply the scientific method from hypothesis to investigation, taking notes, and generating reports with their findings. Students can work individually, with a partner, or as a team.  Our district’ science teachers received all components of this new program and materials for conducting experiments.  All consumable items will be regularly replenished.  The program takes an interdisciplinary approach in that it incorporates the scientific method, mathematics, and the engineering design process.

Recently, Mrs. Kang and Mrs. Deverell’s third grade scientists at Woodrow Wilson Community School studied Forces and built electro-magnets.  Using wire, batteries and iron bolts, the students not only built their own electro-magnets, but also applied the scientific process by experimenting how to make their magnets stronger and widen the magnetic field.   As you can see from the photographs, these young scientists were completely involved in testing their hypothesis and even expressed the desire to build their own magnets at home.