British Science Week

As it was British Science Week we have been busy scientists taking part in lots of mini science experiments! The theme this year is growth so we spent some time on activities where we could watch growing in action. We enjoyed predicting what would happen to rainbow skittles if we added water and watched as the coloured sugar coating on the skittles dissolved and spread across the plate to create a beautiful rainbow! We then grew our own rainbows by using coloured pens. We discussed how these pens would have a similar affect to the skittles when we added water, as we thought the colour from the pens would spread across the paper towel. We were all amazed at how the rainbow ‘grew’ and the rainbow colours spread across the paper towel. We then talked about how the water is being sucked through the holes in the paper towel  because of adhesion(water sticking to the towel) and the water molecues then spread through the towel taking the colour with them.

Our second experiment is one that we will be monitoring over the next few weeks. We discussed what we knew seeds need to grow: water, sunlight, soil and oxygen. We decided we would try and grow a seed without soil but just using water, sunlight and oxygen. We will record how our seed germinates over the next few weeks before then taking them out to plant in Pear Class Garden.

Our third experiment was a STEM challenge. We enjoyed reading the story The Billy Goats Gruff and discussing the bridge that the Billy Goats had to cross. Our challenge was to build a bridge using pegs and lollypop sticks that could hold the goats. It took a while for the children to work out how they would use the pegs and how they would ensure that the bridge was steady and sturdy to be able to hold the Billy Goats. We have some fantastic engineers in the making in Pear Class!

Building Bridges for the Billy Goats!
Growing a rainbow!
Germinating a seed!