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Year 4 present you with some FOOD FOR THOUGHT about how we can use our new scientific knowledge about states of matter to innovate and become changemakers in our world and WHY IT MATTERS.
Year 4 present you with some FOOD FOR THOUGHT about how we can use our new scientific knowledge about states of matter to innovate and become changemakers in our world and WHY IT MATTERS.
Acting out particles in solids, liquids and gases
Acting out particles in solids, liquids and gases
Solids: particles tightly packed, all touching
Solids: particles tightly packed, all touching
Liquids: particles tightly packed, but moving around
Liquids: particles tightly packed, but moving around
Gases: particles spread apart
Gases: particles spread apart
Convection Investigation
Convection Investigation
The Investigation
The Investigation
We used blue food dyed ice cubes to observe what happens when the ice cube melts and changes state to cold water. We observed that cold water sinks to the bottom of the room temperature water. Then, once it warms up a bit, it rises again. This is called convection. We thought about how the same works in air too and the reason why we like to keep the windows open at the top so the cold air coming in warms up by the time it reaches us lower down.
Our predictions
Our predictions
Some of us thought that the blue water that had melted from the ice cube would stay at the top of the jug of water. What we found was quite different!
Making icecream without a freezer?!
Making icecream without a freezer?!
The science
The science
Ice cream explanation.MOVMixing the salt with the ice lowers the melting point of the ice. This means that it is even colder and doesn't melt so quickly, which cools down the juice in the bag. The more we shook the bags, the more the juice cooled down until it became a sorbet!
Shake it!
Shake it!
As we shook the bags, the colder than normal ice (mixed with the salt) cooled the juice. As the juice cooled, it turned before our eyes from a liquid into a solid!
Oobleck Oobleck Everywhere!
Oobleck Oobleck Everywhere!
Year 4 have been investigating the properties of the States of Matter. We found the properties of solids, liquids and gases. We have been using our observational skills and probing this new substance to see if we could categorise it as a solid or liquid and having a lot of fun too!
Non Newtonian Fluid
Non Newtonian Fluid
Oobleck is what is known as a Non Newtonian Fluid, which means that it doesn't conform to the normal properties of the states of matter. When you hit it hard the molecules act like a solid and your hand comes out clean. When you sink in slowly, the molecules act like a liquid.
You can make oobleck by simply adding 2 parts cornflour and 1 part water.
Westminster Kingsway College Food Technology Visit
Westminster Kingsway College Food Technology Visit
We were lucky enough to visit Westminster Kingsway's hospitality industry department to learn about food and how important the science of states of matter is to cooking. Chef Paul showed us lots of interesting things! We got to try chocolate and he taugh us that the way you eat it makes it taste different. Have you ever tried just letting it melt in your mouth? Compare this more bitter taste to when you chew it quickly. We were fascinated!
XCO2 Building Services Engineer Visit
XCO2 Building Services Engineer Visit
Aidan, a building services engineer from XCO2, visited us to talk about his work in creating sustainable buildings. We learnt about different ways to produce energy efficiently, how to desalinate water and how to use energy from the tube to heat homes and buildings!
Aidan's company actively work towards the SDGs
Aidan's company actively work towards the SDGs
We used our knoweldge of evaporation and condensation to help us understand and explain how a desalination plant works.
Engineers work on solving all sorts of problems
Engineers work on solving all sorts of problems
We came up with possible problems that could arise with buildings in various different climates and geographical locations. Then we swapped them around and tried to solve each others' problems using innovative solutions!
Exploring the Bajau people in Borneo's experiences through writing poetry
Exploring the Bajau people in Borneo's experiences through writing poetry
Changing states with dry ice
Changing states with dry ice
Sorrel demonstrated a new process of changing matter: SUBLIMATION. This is when a solid goes straight to a gas. This happens hot water is added to dry ice (frozen CO2).
IMG_2401.MOVIMG_2391.MOVIMG_2408.MOVIMG_2400.MOV
dry ice washing up liquid.MOV
Plastics in the ocean information texts
Plastics in the ocean information texts
Edible water bottles
Edible water bottles
The children suggested we make some edible water bottles like those they'd seen online. We tested them out and thought about the problems they could solve, but also how they might be improved. Our DIY edible water bottles were not quite the same as the Ooho ones in the video, so we thought about how we could make them better!
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