Snails

Different classes have been observing different animals: budgies, fish, tadpoles, frogs, worms and snails have been housed in many classrooms during the year.  Here are some snails from Room 18.

The Senior Science team on the hunt for snails - no luck today, but plenty of slaters and spiders!

Fonterra Science Road Show

On Wednesday 28th June, 37 of our senior Science Club members had a great day out at the Fonterra Science Roadshow. They enjoyed a hands on experience learning about all aspects of 
science including forces and motions, electricity and chemistry. 

We were also lucky enough to see two demonstrations where the scientists taught us about 'The Hidden World' and 'Spectacular Changes'. In the Hidden World we learnt about lenses, microscopes and x-rays, and in Spectacular Changes we learnt about the difference between physical and chemical changes.

Water purification systems

As part of our A LIFE LIKE MINE unit, the senior Science Club made some simple water purification systems.  It is a sad fact that not all children have access to clean running water.

We used layers of pebbles, coarse sand, fine sand and cotton wool balls or coffee filters to make our water purification systems.  It was a good way to recycle old Sprite bottles too.

We made dirty water using mud from the field and then poured it slowly into our system to see how well the filter layers would work.  We found that the filter using a coffee filter cleaned the water better than cotton wool, but overall both worked efficiently.

Science Snippets

You are very welcome to check out our Science Snippets (click on the link below) which are published in our Daily Notices.   You will see some evidence of these in classrooms throughout the school at different times and on the Science display by the office.
CBS Science Snippets

Filtration

Rhubarb

When we checked out the school vegie garden, we found many people did not much about rhubarb. Most people thought we should eat the leaves, and only some people thought we should eat the stalks.
We decided that the best way to learn about rhubarb was to eat it . . . so that's what we did.

We discarded the leaves as they are poisonous, and then chopped up the stalks with some apple.  We added a little sugar (because rhubarb is not very sweet) and some water.  Then we mixed it up and simmered in a saucepan on the hot plate.  The smell was delicious!  It was interesting to see how the heat made the softened the fibres and made the fruit soft and mushy.   Some people sampled  a small cupful when it had cooled down, and most of those people liked it.

Matariki

In June, we learned about the constellation of the Seven Sisters, but we couldn't see them in the daylight.  We made a telescopes covered in black paper at one end.  Then we carefully punched holes in the paper to match the position of the stars by checking the photo.  Now, when we look up to the light with our telescopes, we can see the Seven Sisters!