Second-grade students at Oasis Academy got hands-on with science this week as they explored the world of properties and materials. Administration had tasked the students with the job of making glue for the school and they took the challenge seriously.
The students started with four common materials, flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. They began by observing the four different dry substances and noting each’s properties. They then used those observations to help them as they began creating their own recipes for their own glue.
The students added water and began mixing to observe how the matter/ingredients changed. The school administration then performed a test, gluing a bean to a piece of paper to see which recipe worked the best.
“This lesson emphasized observation skills, teamwork, and curiosity — key elements of hands-on science learning,” teacher Ali Montgomery said. “By the end of the experiment, students proudly made some observations that would help them with their final product. For example, one of these ingredients turned into a solid when mixed with water.”