Middle School: August 18-22, 2025
Hello, Middle School Families,
Our Physics block continued this week with many more experiments and discoveries. Starting with the biography of Otis Barton and William Beebe, the class learned about their world record dive in 1934 in the Bathysphere. Building on the manometer demonstration from last week and the observation that water pressure increases with depth, students were able to analyze Beebe’s diving tank design and its ability to withstand water pressure. Students wrote a composition from the perspective of Otis Barton to William Beebe sharing the Bathysphere design.
Several experiments throughout the week illustrated both Pascal’s principle (water seeks its own level) and Archimedes’ Principle (the buoyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces). After the Archimedes’ experiments, the class was challenged to see how many pennies they could float on a 5x5 piece of aluminum foil. They had a lot of fun coming up with various designs to see which would work the best.
Cohesion, adhesion, and capillary action activities rounded out the week and might have been the favorite. How many drops of water fit on a penny? It was WAY more than everybody thought. And why does a bubble form at the top of the penny when you drop water on it? What’s happening there? It’s so wonderful to see the students’ amazement and curiosity, and finally, their developing understanding as we arrive at the principles that explain the phenomena they have observed.
Announcements & Reminders:
Students will need boots (hat and bug spray recommended) for Environmental Education. These can stay at the school!
September 1: Labor Day (No School)
September 2: Early Childhood Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:00 pm (adults only, please)
September 3: Grades Curriculum Night, 6:00-7:00 pm (adults only, please)
September 13: Community Work Day
Thank you for the honor of teaching your children,
Ki Lesley
