resourcesparents

The Discovery Lab at
McDougle Elementary School
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Resources for Parents

What did my child do in the Discovery Lab recently?

August
	Kindergarten	no lab in August
	First Grade	no lab in August
	Second Grade	Junk Town: Design Technology
	Third Grade	Junk Town: Design Technology
	Fourth Grade	Junk Town: Design Technology
	Fifth Grade	Junk Town: Design Technology

September
	Kindergarten	Toilet Trouble: Problem solving with invented tools
	First Grade	Mystery Sand: Using properties of objects to discover similarities and differences.
	Second Grade	Observational Skills: A variety of activities designed to improve skills of looking and describing.
	Third Grade	GeoCaching, Jr.: Modeling the sport of GeoCaching to learn cardinal directions.
	Fourth Grade	Mining: Mine simulation which focuses on the costs and benefits of mining.
	Fifth Grade	River Cutters: Modeling river formation.

October
	Kindergarten	Air Powered Vehicles: Using air to move small vehicles around,
	First Grade	Rollercoasters: Discovering how different objects with similar characteristics behave.
	Second Grade	To the Sea in Ships: Designing and building model weather instruments.
	Third Grade	Before Its Time: Observing spring flowering bulbs and forcing early bloom
	Fourth Grade	Rocks and Minerals: Discovering the difference between rocks and minerals and their uses.
	Fifth Grade	To the Sea in Ships: Designing and building model weather instruments.

Where can I find more information about North Carolina's science curriculum?

Information about the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in Science can be found at the Department of Public Instruction's web site.

How can I help in the Discovery Lab?

Please feel free to visit the Discovery Lab at any time (check in at the front desk when you arrive). Volunteers are always welcome, regardless of whether there are classes in session or not. There is a calendar outside the Discovery Lab door which lists when classrooms are scheduled for their next visit. In addition, the lab is always looking for donations of common household items like tissue tubes, batteries and meat trays, among other things. Email Mrs. Denniston, McDougle Elementary School's Science Specialist if you have any questions.