Science

Foundation classes have continued in their exploration of the properties of materials that will be effective for creating party hats later in the term - we have been sorting materials and considering if they will be suitable if it is a rainy day, or if it is a sunny day - will they survive the wet conditions or will they provide shade to our faces? 

The children can still bring along anything that they think will be suitable for decorating the hats we will construct later in the term. 

Donations will be collected into classroom boxes until Friday this week, and thanks to those who have already contributed.

Grade 1/2 have been making mixtures! 

They have enjoyed observing the mixture of solids, and also mixing solids and liquids. It has been wonderful to watch as they have worked so well in collaborative learning teams to create these mixtures. 

We have also been discussing whether or not these mixtures can be reversed - can they be returned to their original states of matter, and why this can or cannot be done. 

This week we are mixing liquids! 

Grade 3/4 are continuing to work through their Design Portfolio, and testing and identifying the properties of different packaging materials. How tough are they? Do they tear easily? Are they waterproof? Do they provide padding? 

We have also discussed the impact of materials on the environment, and how we can identify if materials can be recycled. 

This week we are planning to test how well different packaging protects a biscuit when they are exposed to certain impacts.

Grade 5/6 are currently planning an investigation to determine the fastest way to melt ice - creating a liquid from a solid. 

They have recently worked on identifying different states of matter into Liquids, Solids or Gases, and when these matters change from one to another, can they be reversed? 

One matter that always elicits lots of discussion -  “which state of matter is smoke - a gas or a solid?” Smoke is actually a mixture of solid particles, liquid droplets, and gases. 

The solid particles and liquid droplets are suspended in the air, making smoke a colloidal suspension. 

So while it contains solid particles, it’s not solid itself: rather, it’s more accurately described as a suspension or aerosol!