EYFS

On Monday, Acorns and Chestnuts thoroughly enjoyed learning about different types of dinosaurs from the visiting paleontologist!  They especially enjoyed digging and discovering some of the fossils that be brought with him.  The pupils' favourite discoveries ranged from a triceratops horn to a giant skull.

Acorn class also enjoyed creating some ‘bubbly’ artwork! The force from the popping bubbles made some fun prints and shapes! Chestnut class became bridge constructors, carefully planning and designing bridges for different uses. The children used their knowledge of materials to help with their designs.

YEAR 1

On Monday, Year 1 built their own volcanoes. The pupils used clay to build the outside of the volcano and then added bicarbonate of soda, red food colouring and vinegar to observe an explosive eruption! The children were fascinated to watch the chemical reaction that occurred and enjoyed the lava spilling down their works of art. In the afternoon, the children constructed their own marshmallow constellations. The children loved learning about the different shapes the stars make in the sky and recreating them using cocktail sticks and marshmallows!

YEAR 2

Maple Class started Science Week off with an ‘Explorify’ activity which challenged the children to find as many similarities and differences between a human, beetle and a fish as they could! The children certainly drew on their knowledge of different animals to make links. In the afternoon, the children explored Africa all the way from their classroom using VR Headsets – there was lots to see and explore!

In Mulberry Class, the children enjoyed some playtime and cuddles with the chicks – they’ve growing so quickly and are definitely feeling braver to explore new places in their pen! It has been fantastic for the children to see the hatching process first-hand and apply their knowledge of life cycles. The children also enjoyed a variety of ‘Twig Reporter’ videos, namely ‘Why do we have snot?’ and ‘Can humans live on the moon?’

YEAR 3

Year 3 kicked off Science Week by testing a variety of foods for starch content. They used scientific equipment carefully and safely to drip iodine onto different food samples. The children enjoyed seeing the iodine turn blue/black when starch was present and remain orange when it wasn’t. The children observed that it was all the plant-based foods that contained starch and that starch was a type of carbohydrate.

The Year 3 classes also enjoyed a visit from Joe, the Hands-On-Science man! The workshop explored different metal salts and their reactions when heated. The pupils’ favourite was copper, which turned the flame bright turquoise!

YEAR 4

Sycamore Class have been busy using their knowledge of circuits to build their own steady hand games today! They worked together to create a circuit where the bulb would light up when the hand-held wire loop touched the wire and completed the circuit!

Holly Class enjoyed exploring and touring different parts of India (their topic for the term) using the VR headsets. There were lots of wonderful sights to see!

Year 4 also enjoyed a pattern-seeking enquiry: ‘How does the distance of a light source affect the size of shadows?’ The pupils enjoyed the practical learning and proved a clear pattern: the closer the light source the bigger the shadows!

YEAR 5

Year 5 had an exciting start to Science Week today! The pupils were busy investigating different coloured filters that would be suitable for an astronaut’s vizor! Using colour-changing beads, the children investigated which colour acetate would best provide protection from UV light. They had to work quickly and accurately, using careful observation skills, to measure and calculate the rate of change and compare to a coloured key. According to the pupils, the best colour for an astronaut’s vizor is green! Our next job is to inform NASA!

In the afternoon, Year 5 enjoyed a workshop looking into the science behind black holes.  Black holes are formed when giant stars explode at the end of their life cycle (called a super nova). If the star has enough mass it will collapse in on itself, down to a very small size.  Due to its small size but enormous mass, the gravity will be so strong it will absorb light and become a black hole! The pupils enjoyed modelling the process using balloons, magnets and marbles. Practical exercise also helped the pupils to understand the effect of gravity and what could happen if we ever got too close to a black hole! They then finished the afternoon creating their own black hole models out of cardboard.

YEAR 6

Year 6 enjoyed a STEM-filled afternoon as they embraced the year-group ‘Marble Run Challenge!’ The aim of the challenge: to design and construct a marble run ready for a race-off later in the week. The catch – slowest time wins! The children have already shown great collaboration and teamwork skills, and they have been demonstrating application of their knowledge of forces in their designs. We are very much looking forward to seeing the pupils’ completed marble runs!