The Lighthouse - 5s
The Lighthouse children have made a wonderful start to the Term. This term the Lighthouse Keeper’s will be engaged in a unit of inquiry which will explore the central idea ‘Using our senses helps us to discover the world.’ Our lines of inquiry will be: There are 5 senses in the human body; Our senses give us information to help us learn and help to keep us safe; Materials can be changed and combined for a range of purposes. We will explore these lines of inquiry within the conceptual focus of form and causation.
Much of this inquiry will be filtered through our PlayWorld, which for this term will be linked to the story George’s Marvelous Medicine, by Roald Dahl. The children will be using their developing science knowledge and skills to help George overcome some science based problems throughout the story, not to mention help him deal with that mean, old Nanna of his!
The scientists in the Lighthouse have carried out a number of experiments so far this term. One experiment was called the exploding lunch bag! We gathered our ingredients (warm water, vinegar, a tissue, lunch bag measuring cups and spoons) and spoke about how mixing different substances can cause a reaction. We made predictions about what we thought would happen after we mixed the materials together and then we observed how the materials changed and reacted. We noticed the lunch bag getting bigger and bigger until, POP! We spoke about what it was making the bag expand, a gas called carbon dioxide, which was created when the vinegar and carbon dioxide were mixed together.
The Lighthouse also carried out an experiment called rubbery eggs. For this experiment we needed eggs, vinegar, measuring cups and a few drops of food colour. First, we placed the egg into the cup and then the children measured 200ml of vinegar and poured it into the cup. Finally, we added a few drops of food colour to make it look fancy. The children recorded a diagram of the experiment in their books and some had a go at labelling their drawings. The scientists also made predictions about what would happen to the egg: it will explode, the shell will crack, the shell will disappear, it will disintegrate and turn to powder, there will be a gas from the vinegar. We checked in on the eggs one day later and discovered that the acid in the vinegar had eaten away the shell of the egg which made the shell soft like a water balloon, wowzers! We also discovered that the egg could now bounce if we dropped it from a low height onto a flat surface. However, drop it from too high or onto a pointy object/ surface it will BREAK.
In maths this term we have been exploring teen numbers (11 - 20). We discovered some of the teen number names make sense, like 14, 16, 17, 18, 19. Some however were a bit confusing 11, 12, 13, 15. We thought a better name for 11 would be oneteen, 12 should be called twoteen, etc.
We discovered all the teen numbers have 1 ten and some ones and we practiced making these numbers using tens and ones blocks. We also practised counting these numbers by counting on from 10.
We have also been exploring time. We started by exploring 1 minute and testing what can be done in less than a minute and what takes longer. We discovered we could drink a glass of water, write our name and get our lunch boxes in less than a minute. Eating lunch and counting to 100 takes more than a minute. Maybe you might like to carry out a few tests at home as well!
During Bush School this term, the Lighthouse children will be applying some of their scientific knowledge in order to carry out some bush cooking. First up on the menu will be some caffeine free chai with soy milk and honey. Damper and other such classics will also be making an appearance on the menu. We will also be sure to use our emerging writing skills to record our recipes so we don’t forget the ingredients!
Clinton Morgan
The Fives Classroom Teachers