Teaching and Learning in 6V

Throughout Term 1, Year 6’s Science has centred around being Change Detectives: exploring reversible and irreversible reactions; investigating the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases; and looking at the way molecules act and interact when placed under different forces. 

To conclude our studies, Ken from Mad About Science ran a hands-on session with the class where we looked at the properties of Orbeez (water beads) and grew our own from their small plastic starting phase, saw examples of density and salinity, talked about buoyancy and were able to see the interaction of acids and bases in action using coloured cabbage water as a control. It was quite fascinating to see the purple water change into various shades of pinks and blues when mixed with lemon juice, vinegar, bi-carb soda, and hand disinfectant. Especially interesting was mixing the basic bicarb with an acidic liquid and seeing the resulting fizz and feeling the endothermic (cooling) reaction. 

Best of all was finishing with a bang … literally! By combining bi-carb and vinegar in a Ziploc bag, and sealing it up quickly, we were able to trap the gas and create mini explosions (sincere apologies in advance if your pantry supply of these items seem to disappear all of a sudden).