by Cynthia Calhoun | Feb 12, 2020 | News
The science fair has some great experiments going on.
The annual science fair is always a fun event. Across grade levels, all students participate and present their projects to the other grades. All students – whether individually or in groups – are responsible for coming up with testable ideas, hypotheses, drawing conclusions and interpreting results.
It’s not always so easy to come up with something that is both interesting and challenging. But, we have a sneak peek of our Omega 7/8 students doing just that.
We visited their classroom recently to see them testing and working diligently on their science projects to get ready for the upcoming science fair. In the Omega classroom, students were working in four different groups on a specific science experiment they chose.
Proving that gases have weight
This particular group set out to prove that gases have weight by using combustion. They weighed out pieces of wood and magnesium before burning. Next, they put each one to flame and tested their weight after the burning process.
Their prediction was that the wood would weigh less, and the magnesium would weigh more.
Omega students set out to prove that gases have weight by burning wood and magnesium, while comparing the weight of each before and after the burn process.
Engineering a Reptile Egg Incubator
The idea behind this science project was to engineer how to transport a reptile egg from site A to site B while using heat chemistry. The goal was to keep the egg stable and warm, as it could not shift position or roll over, nor could it endure temperature fluctuation.
The incubator required calcium chloride, baking soda and water. Students needed to measure whether they could detect temperature changes after they dissolved calcium chloride, and baking soda into water. The eggs needed a constant temperature of 28 – 32C during transport and being able to maintain temperature for a certain amount of time was an important consideration in this investigation.
Two of our Omegan students work on their project: Engineering a Reptile Egg Incubator (with heat chemistry).
The Digestion of Minerals in the Stomach
This group began their science class by heating up small glass pipes and bending them to simulate the “pipes” in human digestive systems. Once complete, they would then mix hydrochloric acid and marble to observe the reaction (much as it would happen in the stomach). The last step was to measure the resulting water and carbon dioxide from the process.
Above: Two Omegans heat and bend glass pipes to simulate “pipes” of the digestive system.
Below: All the materials needed to complete their investigation.
Testing for Vitamin C Content by Titration
Are you curious about how much vitamin C is actually in the things you buy? This group set out to answer those questions by testing how much vitamin C is present in various common beverages through a titration technique. Students used an indophenol solution to determine the presence of vitamin C by how much the color changed. The various beverages they tested included freshly squeezed lemons, limes, and oranges. They also tried orange juice found in the grocery store, and sodas that claimed to have Vitamin C.
This Omega group is checking the presence (and amount) of Vitamin C in common beverages using titration.
The Results
The results from each of these experiments is the subject of the upcoming science fair. You’ll have to check out the Omega 7/8 classroom to find the conclusions to burning magnesium and wood, how to maintain temperature in an egg incubator using chemical reactions, what happens to calcium carbonate when it reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and how much vitamin C is really in our common drinks. Check Rainbow Reminders for science fair details!
by Admin | Apr 26, 2017 | Blogs
Come celebrate the return of the faeries with us this May Day from 10:30am to 12:00pm in the Outdoor Classroom on Haywood Road!
We will celebrate the magic of spring by dancing together, wrapping the May Pole, eating berries-n-cream, blowing bubblles, bursting with song, and reveling in our bright costumes. We invite you to come dressed up in fairy, magical, and animal inspired outfits. We can’t wait to see you sparkle! If you feel inspired to, we also welcome you to bring small gifts to place in the nooks of nature for the faeries and their houses.
Beltane, or May Day, lies directly opposite Halloween in the solar calendar. Both mark the point between the preceeding equinox and the following solstice. The holidays mirror each other as opportunities both to interact with magic beings, wether ghostly ancestors or trickster faeries, as well as to mark a major shift in our relationshiop to the sun, wether we’re moving towards the shadows or turning towards the warmth of light.
Thank you for coming to celebrate this bright, flowering, new beginning of springtime with us! This is one of our favorite holidays we celebrate and we cant wait to share it with you. Check out our pictures from years previous to get a sense of the festive magic involved ♥.
by Admin | Jan 24, 2017 | Events, News
Winter time is a perfect time to come together in community! The whole family is invited to this free funky fun dance party at the Rainbow Community Center in the auditorium at 60 State Street, from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, February 4th. Preschoolers through Middleschoolers are encouraged to get up on the stage and boogie to their favorite tunes. Rainbow students don’t often get the chance to romp and sway, groove and bounce on the auditorium stage. This is the perfect opportunity to let your kids move their bodies in whatever authentic ways they are inspired to while we gather and mingle in community!
by Webmaster | Nov 5, 2014 | Home Page News, News
Today we had our Day of the Dead Celebration, led by the 4th grade.
We met at the outdoor stage where the 4th grade shared about the History of Day of the Dead. It is a day rooted in Aztec and Catholic tradition, that celebrates and honors people’s ancestors.
4th grade Day of the Dead – starting the celebration
Each student had a role. Some shared statements about how people in Mexico celebrate the occasion.
They talked about how families decorate altars to remember their loved ones who have passed on. Students brought photos and other artifacts they made to remember their loved ones.
Students danced and recited lines in Spanish. They talked about how families celebrate and go to the graves of their loved ones to clean them up and decorate them with flowers. They bring candles and hold a vigil there over the days of October 31-November 2nd.
Their Spanish teacher, Lisa, helped with all the preparations for the celebration. She dressed up and decorated her face like a “calavera” – a skull.
Some students really dressed up!
We also ordered Pan de muertos, or “Day of the Dead bread” from a local bakery in town. It’s so delicious! It has a hint of orange and made as real bread, then topped with sugar. The bread is in the shape of bones or flowers, in honor of the day.
After the celebration was over, we concluded with a Song Circle, led by music teacher, Sue Ford:
It was a great celebration!
by Webmaster | May 20, 2014 | Global Citizenship, News
Yesterday, the NC Green Schools team from the non-profit organization Reading, Riding, Retrofit came to Rainbow to give us a plaque with our award. We are now an NC Green School of Excellence.
At left, Robin Cape (Executive Director of Reading, Riding, Retrofit), center is Katie Ferrell (Program Director) and Max Mraz – Rainbow Builder and Groundskeeper Extraordinaire.
The Reading, Riding, Retrofit: The NC Green Schools Programs organization strives to recognize and encourage schools that practice sustainability. They work to support school initiatives to become more “green” in their practices. For schools who want to participate, they list on their website various goals that schools can try to attain to help green their campuses. They have a five-part rubric: 1) Culture and Community, 2) School Sustainability, 3) Healthy Schools, 4) Curriculum Integration and 5) Innovation.
Rainbow tackled all five parts. Many schools only try to hit two or three parts of the rubric but we already know that Rainbow strives to go above and beyond with is vision of sustainability.
Joining in the fun was WLOS and Tammy Watford. They came to see the celebration and created a “Never Stop Learning” video documenting our all-school celebration.
They also interviewed two of our Omega students and their perceptions of being “green” and leading sustainable lives.
The first graders performed their “Water Cycle” song and 6th graders shared poems inspired by nature. Take a look at the photos to see all the wonderful students and staff enjoying a beautiful award on a beautiful day.
The Water Cycle Song
First grade Rainbow students sing the “Water Cycle” song as they are filmed by WLOS.
Kindergarten students join the celebration.
Two executive directors converse while students are assembling.
Kindergarten and first grade students get ready for the celebration
Students and teachers look on as sixth graders read their nature poems.
Students get ready to celebrate
Max, Robin and Torin (an RRR judge) check out the wooden “balance beam” trails on the preschool playground. The NC Green Schools team toured the school after the celebration.
Left to right: Cynthia (who wrote the NC Green Schools application), Renee (Exectutive Director of Rainbow), Robin Cape and Katie Ferrell
NC Green Schools judges and Rainbow staff check out the worm composting bins.
Robin Cape, Executive Director of Reading, Riding Retrofit: NC Green Schools Programs – touring the campus