Wonder Wednesday - Wondering About Ice Skating

This week's #WonderWednesday inspiration comes from ice skating.  

Some wondering I had about ice skating this week:

• Is it harder to skate on indoor ice, or outdoor ice?
• How is indoor ice made?
• How much water is used to make an indoor ice rink?
• How have ice skates evolved over the years?

Related Wonders from Wonderopolis:

• #67 When Were Ice Skates Invented?
• #109 What Is a Zamboni?
• #494 Why Is Ice Slipper?

Gearing Up for the Winter Olympics 2014

Here are some great Wonders at Wonderopolis to share before, during, and after the Winter 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  The Olympics run from February 7th to February 24th.  What a great way to spend time wondering with your family or class about the Olympics.

#1104 Is Winning Everything?

#933 Are You a Good Sport?

#872 How Do You Break the Mold?

#838 Does Practice Always Make Perfect?

#814 Can It Snow When It's Not Cold?

#745 What Are Hockey Pucks Made of?

#663 Does the Olympic Flame Ever Go Out?

#494 Why Is Ice Slippery?

#437 How Are Sleds and Sleighs Different?

#133 What Is Curling?

#109 What Is a Zamboni?

#67 When Were Ice Skates Invented?

Wonder Wednesday - Wondering About Snowflakes

This week's #WonderWednesday inspiration came from making snowflakes for a display case in my second grade classroom.

Some snowflake related wonders I had this week:

• Why is there such a big difference between the snow to liquid ratio when it snows and the impact that has on the amount of snow we get?
• Does the temperature have an impact on the size and shape of snowflakes?
• What is the best kind of snow (snowflakes) for sledding?
• What is a blizzard?

Related Wonders at Wonderopolis:

• #79 Why Are All Snowflakes Different?
• #814 Can It Snow When It's Not Cold?
• #1141 Where Does Snow Go When It Melts?

Wonder Wednesday - Wondering About Birthdays

Each Wednesday (#WonderWednesday) during 2014 I will be blogging about something I've wondered about during the week.  You can read more about it and join me here.

My inspiration for this week's wondering came from my daughter's 12th birthday this past weekend.

Some birthday related wonders:

• Where did the tradition of cake and ice cream at birthday parties come from?
• Why do we give presents at birthday parties?
• Who wrote the "happy birthday" song?
• How do people in other countries celebrate birthdays?

Related Wonders at Wonderopolis:

#100 What Is a Milestone?

#366 Why Do We Blow Out Birthday Candles?

#712 When Is Your Half Birthday?

#800 Is It Really Better to Give Than To Receive?

What are you wondering about this week?

Wonder Wednesday - Week 2 - Wondering About #Ion

Each Wednesday (#WonderWednesday) this year I will be blogging about something I've wondered about during the week.  You can read about it here.

This is the scene at the cart corral as I was leaving the grocery store last Friday, and is my inspiration for my wondering this week.  Yes, there are men working on the door in the background, but that isn't why there aren't any grocery carts.  The reason the corral is empty is because they were all in the store shopping to prepare for winter storm #Ion.

Some #Ion related wonders I have are :

• Why do people (like I did) feel the need to rush to the store when there is an impending snow storm?
• Who names the winter storms?
• How did they come up with the name #Ion?
• What is a polar vortex?
• How could the weather people be so wrong about the snow in our area, but so right about the cold air?
• How many schools across the country were closed Monday and Tuesday because of the weather?  How many kids were out of school?

Related Wonders at Wonderopolis:

#103 Why Is Sand or Salt Put On Roads When It Snows?
#445 When Does the Wind Chill?
#463 What's the Best Thing To Do on a Snow Day?
#481 Where Is the Coldest Place on Earth? (No! It isn't Ohio.)

I would love to have you join me in a Wonder Wednesday Link-Up.  Find out about it here.

Wonder Wednesday Link-Up

Welcome to Wonder Wednesday!

Would you like to participate in the 2014 Wonder Wednesday Link-Up?  Here are some suggestions for participating:

• Create a blog post sharing your wonders (could be a simple picture and what you wondered about it).
• Share how you used Wonderopolis in your classroom (could be a Wonder you shared in class and what your class learned, discovered, or new wonders they had).
• Sharing the wondering you have done in your classroom.  What are your students wondering about, what questions do they have, what new discoveries have they made?
• Share how and what you are learning on Wonder Wednesday (pictures are always great).
• Tweet about your wondering on Wednesday using #WonderWednesday on Twitter.

The 2014 Wonder Wednesday link-up can be either an individual, student, or classroom initiative.  I've started with a personal initiative to model for my students and will expand as the year progress.

I'm looking forward to making many WONDERful connections on Wednesdays as we share and wonder together!

Wonder Wednesday - Week 1 - The Rose Parade

Last week I began thinking about a new initiative for modeling wonder that I could do during 2014.  I encourage students to wonder, but often fail to model my own wondering and provide students with the time to sit back and wonder.  I've decided to TRY and devote some time each week thinking and reflecting on my own wondering and share it with my students.  I'm going to take a picture of something that makes me stop and wonder, and then share it here on Wednesdays for my Wonder Wednesday.  I'm also hoping to have my students join me on our class blog.

My inspiration for this week's wondering came this morning while I was watching the 125th Rose Parade.  (I took the picture below as I layed on the couch watching the parade.)

Some wonders I have about the Rose Parade:

• How many roses are used each year during the parade?
• Where do all of the roses come from?
• How is the decision made for what floats and bands are accepted into the parade?
• How long is the route for the parade?
• On average how long is spent on each float, and how many people work on each float?
• How many floats and bands are in the parade?

Related Wonders at Wonderopolis:
#603 Do You Love a Parade?
#920 Does Every Rose Have a Thorn?
#1041 What's the Biggest Marching Band?

I would love to have other bloggers and classrooms join me during 2014!