Year Two Periscopes

The Year Two class have just finished a couple of sessions making their own periscopes. The boys were excited to hear that they could be used for spying, and were interested to hear about their use in WW1 in the trenches and their use in submarines.
The whole class worked really hard to correctly and neatly cut out and construct their periscopes, being extra careful to ensure that their mirrors lined up correctly.

Term Two Evaluation

The second term has once again seen many classes actively participate in a wide range of hands on science and technology.
 The junior syndicate have been exploring building cars and toys for their classroom during the winter terms. Year Three have spent a few lessons using the new K'nex forces kit, allowing them to build gravity powered vehicles. They have been learning about the importance of fair tests and what makes a fair test. the boys have thoroughly explored modifying and testing their vehicles to make their travel the furtherest.




The Year 8 students have been busy making steam powered Putt Putt boats.
There is a fantastic site, sciencetoymaker,  which clearly, through a set of comprehensive video's, demonstrates how to go about making the motor using an old coke can, straws and glue -
This task has involved lots of attention to detail, carefully following instructions and taking care to complete each stage carefully and neatly. Most of the boys have been successful in creating their steam powered engine, and some have continued on to make a boat for their engine (although many are happy with the simple plastic tray to try their engine out with).



Year six are completed a unit on forces. This began with the use of the K'nex kits. These have proved hugely popular and the students are going to use these within their own class. Using hands on tasks and lots of equipment, students are exploring key points based around forces and are also looking at magnets and magnetism.

A  number of senior school students have also completed an independent science fair investigation.  Next term some of these will go on to represent Wellesley at the Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair.