From the 5/6 Classrooms

Science Weeks in the Grade 5/6 Team

BPPS is celebrating Science Week over two weeks to make the most of the experience. In Week 5, we had two exciting science incursions.  The Grade 6 STEM pillar leaders will also run whole school science activities.  In week 7, the STEM team will be hosting a roller coaster building competition during Care, Learn and Share. 

On 15th of August, RMIT came to BPPS to run a science incursion. The students learnt so many cool things and got to explore and experiment with a variety of equipment. 

The first session was about electricity.  Students learnt about how electricity works, and that it is an energy that gives things the power to move and work.  Everything in the world around us is made of particles called protons, neutrons and electrons. These three tiny particles are found in everything around us.  When the electrons move, they create electricity.

The students then had a turn at building their own electrical circuit. The students used batteries, alligator clamps, sound producing device, solar panels and a fan.  They then investigated different materials, to see which conducted electricity and which acted as an insulator.  

The second session explored light and colour terms like luminant, translucent, transparent and opaque.  They used a variety of equipment including torches, coloured lights, altered lenses, 3D like glasses, mirrors and cameras. They will have their second session on the 22nd August. 

STEM Pillar have organised activities for the school to participate in different science related activities. The activities include using beebots, spheros, lego building and bridge building.  Students will practice collaborating, thinking critically and creatively and sharing their ideas. 

In Week 7, the STEM Pillar leadership team have organised a fun Care Learn and Share activity.  Each group will be using paper and masking tape to build a roller coaster for a marble to roll down.  The group who has their marble rolling through the roller coaster for the longest amount of time wins.  There will also be points for group with the most complicated and successful roller coaster.  

Congratulations to all our budding scientists for some great work!!

Regards from the 5/6 Team.