Launch Day!

Nothing was going to damped the excited spirits of Year Three as they prepared to launch their rockets on a slightly wet and blustery Days Bay day.

After experimenting at home, I decided to launch the rockets in Williams Park.  With the help of Mrs Familton pouring some water into each bottle, I placed the bottle onto the launcher and held it ready.  Each rocket builder had to use the bicycle pump to get as much air pressure into the bottle.  This was quite a challenge for some of the smaller members of the class.  However, each rocket was fired into the air, much to the joy of the class.

Beforehand, in class we had talked about air pressure, looked at balloons and discussed what would make our rocket fly up into the air.

Below are some pictures of Year Three and myself launching their rockets.

Once again the Science Toymaker website has all the detailed instructions for how to make your own rocket launcher.

Term One 2012

With the summer term here, it's the perfect time for launching rockets and exploring our wonderful environment right on our own doorstep.

The Junior Syndicate have got two technology units underway. At the beginning of each year, they make their own peg label to hang above their coat and bag hooks in the cloak room.  Each shape is made from air dry clay so the boys all have to be well planned before they can start making their shape.  They soon learnt the importance of planning and keeping their sketches simple, as the clay began to dry before they had time to change their minds about what they wanted to do.

They have also been working on designing and constructing their own rockets, using recycled materials from home and school.  Next week we hope to launch Year Three's rockets, all we need is for a wind free day.  In class, the students have been learning about air pressure, we've been exploring balloons, plastic bottles with warm air trapped inside and a number of boys have shared their own experiences of changing air pressure!

Year Three busy constructing rockets

Once again the Science Toy Maker website has detailed instructions and information about building an air rocket.  This is a wonderful site, full of lots of excellent things to make with lots of details, explanations and information.  It also has a link to many other project sites which a vast array of hands on science and technology activities that are suitable for all ages, many of which just use things found around the home.

Term three Evaluation

It was a very busy and exciting time in the science and technology room throughout term three.
Congratulations firstly, to the five senior boys who represented Wellesley College at the Wellington Science and Technology Fair. Special congratulations goes to Lachlan Sim who won three prizes, the Opus International Prize, First in Year 8 (Class 2) and the VUW Science Prize (first across Years 7, 8, 9 and 10). Ben Hawley also won the CRL Energy Prize.

As part of the school wide inquiry, Year 5P spent time in the technology room constructing models of Wellington Harbour, showing how it's topography has changed over time.

Year Seven also had a great time construction box cars to sell at the school gala. The boys spent time exploring ideas, using Youtube to get inspiration and then began the design and construction process. It was great to see lots of effort and care taken when it came to the final stages of painting and presentation. As a result, the cars sold very quickly at the gala!

The junior syndicate also enjoyed making periscopes and exploring what magnets are and how they work.

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.