From the Foundation and 1/2 Classrooms

We can’t believe we are already halfway through the term! And what a busy and exciting start we have had. The students are highly engaged in our Stimulating Science unit. 

Team Foundation

What a busy and exciting Science Week we had in Foundation! Throughout the week, students had many opportunities to investigate, experiment, make predictions and share their discoveries.

We continued exploring our integrated topic, Bridges and Beyond, with a focus on the properties of different materials. This week, we investigated cardboard and fabric. Students explored and compared the materials, discussing how they felt, what they looked like and how they could be used. We then put our discoveries into practice by using these materials to create our very own trolls, as we work towards making the characters from The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Our letter focus for the week was V, which gave us the perfect opportunity to learn all about volcanoes and connect our literacy learning to Science Week. Students learnt about volcanoes and what happens when they erupt.  We created a collage of a volcano using scrap paper and used straws to make a flying lava effects with paint and water. 

To finish off our Science Week celebrations, we welcomed our families into the classroom for ourScience Showcase. Students worked with their families to make a prediction about what they thought would happen when bicarbonate soda and vinegar were mixed together. We then put our predictions to the test and watched as the reaction recreated what a volcanic eruption might look like!

Team 1-2

We began the term with an engaging immersion experiment looking at what what happen when we pop sultanas into some soda water. Students had to predict what they think will happen. We then conducted the experiment, watching on excitedly as the sultanas ‘danced’ up and down in the cup. We discussed what we thought was happening and why.

We have tied in some mini experiments with procedural writing. We first made some paper helicopters and wrote up a procedural text for how we made these. We next made a rocket(!!) using a bottle filled with some vinegar and bicarb soda. 12TA’s rocket did a small launch, although, not what we thought would happen. We discussed why we thought the rocket didn’t launch super high into the sky. 12AO then modified the experiment and still had challenges getting the rocket to take off! This is all part of the learning and curiosity in Science – modifying and adjusting as we go to achieve success. It also provides an opportunity for some great discussions into why we thought the experiment did not go to plan and what we may change next time.

Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Science Week activities

All students in Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 planted a Cress head during week 4. This allowed us time to water our plants daily and observe and discuss them growing ahead of our Science showcase at the end of week 5. We had varied growth across the class and wondered whether they were impacted where we kept them; in direct sunlight, in a room away from sun or too close to our classroom heaters! Students have enjoyed watched their cress head grow and change over the 2 weeks.

We also completed some science rotations in FHR, 12AO and 12TA in week 5 for Science week. These were:

Salty Snowflakes

During the activity students made an Epsom slats snowflake. When the warm water cools, the Espom salt forms long, sparkly crystals on a pipe cleaner shape, just like a real snowflake grows from tiny ice crystals in cold clouds. 

Bubble Wands

Students investigated how the size and shape of a bubble wand will impact on the size and shape of its bubbles.

Sensory Seeds

Students explored different types of seeds, through this hands-on, sensory activity,  using touch,sight and sound. They explored and compared a variety of seeds using their senses, developing fine-motor and observation skills.  We then used the beans to make maracas and investigated whether different types of beans produced different sounds.

It was wonderful to see the students embracing their role as young scientists throughout the week. They asked questions, made predictions, investigated, observed and shared their discoveries with others. A big thank you to all our families who joined us for the Science Showcase and helped us celebrate a fantastic week of science and learning!

Kind regards,

Grade Foundation, 1 and 2 teachers