Saturated Solutions and Separating Mixtures

First week back and the science room has been busy with boys using different science techniques.

After firmly deciding that dissolving does not involve disappearing, boys got to make a saturated solution.  They experimented using cold and hot water and looked at the rates of change.  We've saved some of the saturated solutions to see what happens to them over the next week.

They also got to work in groups to decide what would be the best method to separate mixtures of
*  Sand and sawdust
*  Iron filings and sand
*  Soil and water

Once they had decided, in their group they experimented with their agreed method and then carefully observed what happened and made conclusions on the best methods to separate these mixtures.

It's been great to see all of the boys enjoying science and applying their problem solving and reasoning skills in science.

Our Stream Study

The Year Five classes have just finished learning about our stream.  They've done all sorts of research in their classroom and then with me, we've done some practical investigations in the stream.
Using various equipment, the classes have learnt how to measure the speed of the stream, how to take the temperature, how to conduct a quadrant count and how to use a water clarity meter.

The boys really enjoyed getting into the stream and it was great to see them beginning to take note of the condition of the stream and what they could do to improve it.

One of the highlights had to be feeding the eels.  Depending on how quiet we could be, at times we saw up to four different eels.  The boys loved hearing them swim upstream, splashing and swimming over the rocks and logs.

This week in the Science Room

Look what I found waiting for me on my desk on Monday morning!

Just fantastic!  Thanks Jude.  I love it when boys bring in and share something that they have found interesting about their world around them.

The Year Six classes have started their sessions on looking at light and colour. We found out about the visible spectrum (and the electromagnetic spectrum). We experimented with torches and making shadows, how to change the size of them and the different sources of light.  We did some experiments that looked at how light travels and then we had some fun using $2 shop laser pointers and mirrors.  Each group had to reflect their laser beam using the mirrors and then hit their target pinned to the walls.  Great fun and they certainly learnt about how light travels!

Year Five were fortunate enough to start their stream study yesterday and today before the wet weather arrived.  Both classes were given the opportunity to explore and have a good look in and around our stream.  How lucky are we that we have streams bordering both sides of our school!  The boys really enjoyed lifting the rocks and a few managed to spot a few eels, fish, spiders and flying insects.

After our play and explore, we then spent some quiet time taking a closer look at our stream and sketching the path of our stream, noting the width of the stream and how shady and sunny the different parts are.

Then this afternoon we started putting together our new 3D printer! Stay tuned for further updates on the building of it...