Year 3 Spotlight

Inquiry in Year 3

To kick off the term, the Year 3 students had a fantastic inquiry incursion about the states of matter! They explored the differences between solid, liquids and gases. Students conducted experiments and noticed how they changed between states.

In the classroom, we have used the scientific method to predict, observe, explain and reflect on different chemical experiments. Students have participated in experiments such as:

• Heating and cooling substances (water, chocolate and butter).
• Creating Oobleck and discovering that it is neither a solid nor a liquid, but actually a non-newtonian substance! 
• Forming a gas by mixing a liquid and a solid (mixing bi-carb soda and vinegar with a bottle and balloon).
• Changing cream from a liquid to a solid (making butter through vigorous shaking).
• Students also created informative posters explaining the process of heating and cooling using vocabulary such as; sublimation, melting and evaporation.

Students have thoroughly enjoyed conducting their experiments and have begun to create PowerPoints to present their findings. They will share their PowerPoints with their peers at the end of the term.

Highlights of Inquiry

• ‘I love finding out new things and doing experiments.’ ~ Shyla KF, 3B
• ‘I like doing the experiments and writing about them.’ ~ Quinn M, 3B
• ‘I liked all the experiments.’ ~ Audrey M, 3B
• ‘I liked the Oobleck experiment because when you punched the Oobleck it was as hard as a rock.’ ~ Oscar Z, 3C
• ‘I really liked the Oobleck experiment because it was fun to play with and now I know a lot about it.’ ~ Layla W, 3C
• ‘The balloon experiment was really interesting to watch.’ ~ Geet G, 3C

Year 3 Teachers and Students