Science at NMPS

Science across the year levels

From Science teachers, Kimalee & Ritu

From Prep to 6, students have made an enthusiastic and productive start to their new units of work for Science. This Term, students are focusing on the Science learning area of Earth & Space Sciences. Preps are looking at 'Weather'. Already they have made weather wheels, discussed and drawn different types of weather, watched videos and learnt new songs on the four seasons of the southern hemisphere. They have investigated thermometers and weather vanes. 

Year 1 are looking at 'Habitats'. Already they have investigated clay, loam and sandy soils, brainstormed and recorded information, drawn and labelled soil profiles. They have talked about what makes soil healthy, so that plants like to grow in them. They have learnt songs and used iPads to takes photos of plants around the school, focusing on roots, stems, leaves and flowers.

Year 2 are looking at 'Water'. They have measured out 'water in our world', visually showing how much of Earth's water is salty and how much is fresh. They have learnt new songs, created Venn diagrams and played water sources bingo, as well as learnt about our limited supply of freshwater on Earth and what we use it for. They have learnt a lot of new vocabulary.

Year 3 are looking at 'Day and Night'. They have already developed an understanding of the role of Sun, Earth and Moon and other aspects like their size, Earth's axis and the difference between rotation and revolution. In the later part of the term, they will be making models of the solar system and making models to depict Earth's rotation and revolution around the Sun. 

Year 4 are looking at 'Earth's Crust' and how different rocks are formed, like Sedimentary, Metamorphic and Igneous rocks. In Weeks 3 and 4 they are engaging in a treasure hunt around the school to form their sedimentary rocks and understand the different layers involved. They have also created a flip book that highlights the 'Layers of Soil'. 

Year 5 are looking at 'The Solar System'. They have investigated the distance of different planets from the Sun by making the Solar System on a toilet paper roll and reusing the sheets to make and compare the sizes of Earth, Sun and Moon. In the coming weeks, Year 5 would be engaging in investigating the difference between planets in the solar system and comparing galaxies. 

Year 6 are looking into 'Natural Disasters'. In the starting weeks, we created and revised the concepts of tornadoes and how they are formed. In the following weeks, we will be investigating the concept of renewable and non-renewable resources by creating a world in Minecraft that is powered by renewable resources like tidal, wind, solar and presenting it in groups to the class and investigating the different agencies involved in supporting locals during natural disasters.