Science at Magen David Yeshivah

Science is all around at Magen David Yeshivah. Over the past few months, students in every grade have been learning about the many ways that science is involved in our everyday lives. The comprehensive learning experiences in which the children participated not only advanced their academic knowledge of different scientific laws and principles that govern our world, but also encouraged the students to work together as a team.

The 5th graders designed and constructed models of bridges and learned about the forces that produce stress on each bridge and how proper construction can counteract such forces as compression and tension. The students worked in groups to enhance their scientific skills—taking accurate measurements, planning, forming hypotheses, engineering, drawing to scale, and, most importantly, deciding what type of bridge they would build. The challenge was for each group to create a bridge out of two pieces of balsa wood measuring thirty-six by four inches and one piece measuring eighteen by four inches. Each group had to configure their bridge in such a way that it was able to withstand the force of compression applied by the pail of weights added at the competition.

With much excitement, the principals, parents, teachers, and especially the students anticipated the final results. With each added weight, the tension built as to how much each bridge would be able to withstand. The winning bridge was able to handle over 200 lbs.

Congratulations go to the winners: builders of The Sole Bridge, Sepora Beyda, Sarah Cohen, Lauren Laniado, Odette Sardar, and Evelyn Tebele; The MDY Bridge Builders, Renee Gindi, Regine Hazan, Nora Hedaya, Joyce Kassin; The Amazing Bridge Builders, Lois Betesh, Lori Sardar, Susan Mosseri, Molly Haber; and the Building Gems, Shirley Farca, Giselle Habert, Matilda Kassab, Esther Kishk and Sarah Ziat.

The Franklin Science Institute traveled from Philadelphia to Magen David Yeshivah to help bring science alive for our students by performing demonstrations and experiments with student-audience participation. This fun assembly was an exciting addition to the information the students were learning in class. In conjunction with their aeronautics unit, the 6th graders were treated to a spectacular flight show involving hot air balloons, the launch of a soda bottle rocket, and a demonstration of one of Leonardo DaVinci’s flying machine drawings brought to life.

As part of their science unit on aerodynamics, the 6th grade students learned about the four forces that act on glider performance. The 6th graders demonstrated their understanding of the concepts thrust, lift, gravity, and drag by studying the history and development of flight to design and build their own glider models. The culmination of their endeavors was a competition in the MDY gym to determine which model flew the farthest. Each group had two turns in which to launch their creations, in front of their fellow classmates and parents.

Congratulations go to first place winner, the Freedom Fliers—Juliette Balassiano, Ralph Jamal, Paulette Mishan, Esther Shalam, and Isaac Yedid—whose model glider flew 65 feet. The second place winners were the Golden Gliders, composed of Joy Chera, David Cohen, Alice Hedeya, and Isaac Sued. Their glider flew 60 feet.

The 3rd graders’ program developed a unit on the human body. One item that students found fascinating was the demonstration showing how many of our human body systems need to interact with each other in order to carry out even a simple task like raising one’s hand.

Throughout the school, there are many young, budding scientists who are learning to think outside the box. With great interest, everyone viewed the 3rd and 4th graders’ science fair projects. Each project followed the scientific method to answer a question a curious scientist might have.

In the 3rd grade, the first place winners were Benjamin Sahalon, David Savdie, and Jason Zalta. Their project, entitled “Spinach Glow Away,” demonstrated how chlorophyll, extracted from spinach leaves by alcohol, glows a deep red under a UV light. In second place, Rebecca Cohen, Sarine Dabbah, and Lillian Dana tied with Jack Bibi, Nathan Esses, and Morris Franco. The third place winners were Nathan Botton and Zeev Khafif. The fourth place winners were Alan Fallas, Joey Hamui, and James Jemal.

The winners of the 4th grade science fair were the following: first place awards went to Vico Mizrahi and David Tawil. Their project, titled “Power in Numbers” asked if the number of pieces of lemon affect the amount of electricity produced by the lemon. The second place winners were Morris Azrak and Solomon Mandalaoui; in third place, the winner was Esther Maleh; and in fourth place, Isaac Alfaks and David Saad were chosen.

The 7th graders held their first Bio Expo. Each group of students explored a different topic of biology. From microbiology to human biology, visitors discovered the effects of temperature on the rate of enzyme activity and learned how different methods are needed to extract DNA from plant and animal cells; they saw how microorganisms and different colored light affect plant growth. Parents were amazed at the students’ hard work and at the interesting information they discovered while researching their topics.

Thanks go to MDY science coordinator Devorah Freilich, her assistant Laura Betesh, and to all the teachers and the administration for their hard work and effort in creating and organizing such incredible and informative ideas from all facets of the science world.
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Randi Shomer is a community member, a mother of four children, and a freelance writer.