Experiments

Naranga Science – from Kirralee and Garry

In this first fortnight, the Junior classes have been exploring their senses by listening to different items ‘rattling’ in plastic bottles (e.g. stones, feathers) and deciding if they were loud or soft.  We also worked with some smells in bottles (vanilla, lemon).

The Senior classes last week created ‘Lava Lamps’, using bicarbonate of soda and cooking oil being mixed with vinegar.  The vinegar had different food colourings added to make things more exciting. As the chemical reaction created carbon dioxide bubbles, the globs of coloured vinegar rose and fell within the cup as the bubbles formed and burst.

This week we switched the task to a technology challenge.  Students used fat straws, skinny straws, icy-pole sticks and masking tape to create a ‘Marble Run’ or a ‘Marble Maze’.  We placed a marble at the top and moved the backboard so that the marble would run along or around the ramps and come out at the bottom.  We timed them to see which one could do it in less time, or which one might take the longest time.   

Both activities were good fun (with a bit of learning squeezed in!)