Science News
Errol St Campus
North Melbourne Primary School
From Kimalee Fernandes, Georgie Murphy and Nick Sell, Science teachers
We have been deep in chemistry experiments for the last two weeks! All grades have been looking at non-Newtonian fluids and how oobleck can act as a shear thickening material. Students were able to identify the properties of starch and how gluten in wheat flour has a different effect compared to starch based flours.
Our year 3 students have been looking at the chemistry of bubbles! We have been exploring soap molecules and their interesting properties that allow us to blow bubbles. They have also been changing variables to increase or decrease the time a bubble survives!
The grade 5s and 6s have also been looking at claims and how we can check where they come from by looking at the source and the intent of the publication.
Science at Home
The grade 2’s recently made their own bath bombs. If you would like to try this at home, here is a simple recipe you can use.
BATH BOMBS
Ingredients
½ cup bi-carb soda
½ cup citric acid
6 drops food colouring
Light spray of lemon juice
Dried rose petals/dried lavender- optional
Method
Mix the bi-carb soda & citric acid in a bowl. Add the food colouring and mix. Add the lemon juice (watch for the fizzing!) and mix until it looks like a sandcastle mixture. You might like to add dried lavender or dried rose petals to make it smell nice. Spoon into a small paper cup and let dry for 2-3 days before using in your bath.