Kohavim continued investigating that unique menorah today and made some interesting discoveries. Eliza and Hannah used hand lenses to take a closer look at the menorah and what is inside the small containers. They lifted a one of the small containers and tipped it over and discussed what was happening:
Eliza: We know why it's (liquid) not coming out.
Hannah: Cause there's no hole.Eliza: Cause if there was a hole the oil might drop out.
Hannah: Or whatever it (liquid) is.
Eliza: I know it's oil.
As Hannah left the table to make another choice, Ezra joined the conversation.
Ezra: I know the secret. You need to take off the tops to light it.
Eliza took the top off of the container and spilled some liquid onto the table. Then she touched it.
Eliza: It's liquidy.
As Eliza left the table to make another choice, Sabrina joined Ezra in the investigation.
Ezra: It's juice because juice is yellow. Jesse: How do you think we can find out if it is juice?
Ezra: We should ask G-d if it's juice or oil. Or you can see it on the computer.
Jesse: Is there an experiment we can conduct?
Ezra: Find two candles. Put them on juice and on oil. Whichever one stays longer is better and that's what's in there.
Jesse: Maybe we should get two candles.
Ezra: Maybe we should touch it because juice is cold and oil is hot.
Sabrina: (touches liquid) Hot! It's oil.
Ezra: It feels a bit normal. It's oil. We figured it out!
Later, Lily discovered a book called Harvest of Light by Allison Ofanansky. While reading the book she noticed the menorah in the story was just like our menorah in our classroom. The book follows the process of harvesting olives and turning them into oil for the family's menorah. Lily explained that we must read this story with the whole class.
At second meeting, we heard from Ezra about his experiment to feel the temperature of the liquid and read the book recommended by Lily. Together we concluded the liquid in our menorah is oil! After reading the book about how to make oil from olives, it became clear that we may have our next experiment!
Hannah shared this with me today at lunch. She told me that "her class is getting very interested in this special menorah". She is hoping that the oil in the menorah in your classroom will have its own miracle and last for 8 days just like "the story".
ReplyDeleteI love the way the story unfolds... how their minds work. I love the Eliza "knew" it was oil. Then Ezra's secret. I think that this should be Ellen's next picture book.
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