The kinetic knights

February 19 - 23, 2024

Form - Physical laws leading to scientific and technological advancements

Function - Role of physical laws

Causation - How technological advancements have affected the environment and society

Change - Innovations over a period of time

Connection - Application of science and technology in daily life

Perspective - Different opinions on scientific and technological advancements

Responsibility - Our responsibility towards sustainable advancement

We wanted to learn what we already knew about the types of physical laws of nature so we used a visible thinking routine – VTR – ‘Think, Puzzle, Explore’ to assess our prior knowledge.

We realized that there was a wide difference between everyone's prior knowledge so some of us prepared a provocation. We performed some simple actions with items we found in the classroom and asked questions that deepened everyone’s curiosity:

• Why does the board eraser slide more slowly down a surface than a book?

• Why does a pencil look bigger and bent when placed in a glass of water?

• Why does a cylinder roll and why does it stop rolling?

• Why do magnets sometimes pull towards each other and sometimes push away?

Finally, we grouped according to our interests.  We researched using iPads to find out more about the form and function of these laws and demonstrated our understanding in the form of presentations.

Each group gave a presentation of their findings, using paper and digital formats such as Canva.  Group members supported each other by showcasing real-life examples.

Conservation of Energy - Abhiraj Choudhury

We visited the physics laboratory and enjoyed a wonderful hour of discovery under the guidance of Ms. Sarbjit Kaur, IBDP Physics Educator. We ran an electric current through a copper wire curled around an iron nail to create an electromagnet. We tested the magnet using iron filings and realised that the stronger the current, the stronger the force of the magnet.  We also used iron filings to reveal the invisible magnetic fields we had seen in a textbook illustration! 

 We then learned how a generator works and discussed the use of turbines in the production of hydroelectric power and wind power, both of which are sustainable forms of energy. 

We had an insight into friction when we rolled marbles and balls down a slide, altering the slope or the surface to observe the impact on the movement of the ball.  The ball took less time to roll down a smooth slope than the slope with sandpaper.   Thanks to our research, we were able to connect the physical laws of nature demonstrated in the experiments. 

We had our PYP Exhibition whole and individual group photographs taken and then completed our reflection. We planned our formative assessment which will be a Google slide presentation with visual prompts showing the physical laws of nature in action. 

Breaking news….news…..news – we have finally agreed on a name for our group and have designed a super logo! 

Next, we researched fields where an understanding of the physical laws of nature has led to advancements.  We chose three areas, according to our interests:

•       Safety and security

•       Medical profession

•       Production and consumption of energy

We collaborated to brainstorm, backward plan, and execute ways in which we could demonstrate our understanding through these key concepts and lines of inquiry:

• Causation - How technological advancements have affected the environment and society

• Change - Innovations over time

• Connection - Application of science and technology in daily life

We then brainstormed how to demonstrate our understanding.  We are planning interactive puppet shows, magic shows, models, and experiments to share with parents and friends on the day of the exhibition.

We divided ourselves into two groups to tackle our inquiry from different angles. Both groups focused on demonstrating the application of the physical laws of nature through 3D displays. One group used a house, and the other a city. We sponge-painted backgrounds and planned the 3D elements of the displays. We have collated our research to create infographics and working models that demonstrate our understanding of the lines of inquiries relating to the following key concepts: Connection, causation, and change

- How technological advancements have affected the environment and society

- Innovations over time

- Application of science and technology in daily life. 

Our work continued as planned, with everyone pitching in to move the inquiry forward. It has been incredible to witness the creativity and dedication of our classmates as we work towards our common goal.

Some of our teammates chose to audition for dance performances for the PYP exhibition, showcasing our understanding of our respective topics in a fun and creative way. We are proud of everyone who participated!

As this week draws to a close, we are at the halfway stage and feel confident about our progress. With each one of us having a clear understanding of our goals, we will continue to create eye-catching infographics and models. It is going to be exciting to see how our ideas come to life!

Some of us were delighted to visit G.D. Goenka World School to view their PYP Exhibition. 

This week, we focused on preparing our research for display. 

We also discussed the necessary communication skills required to share our understanding. 

We realized that there would be a lot of information to display accurately and clearly, and we aim to contribute to this by speaking knowledgeably about our inquiry.

The highlight of the week was collaborating to discuss persuasive writing. In groups, we discussed the following topics to pull out the main points:

• The use of seat belts and airbags in vehicles reduces road deaths

• The benefits of X-rays outweigh their risks

• Solar energy is the way forward.

After discussing the points and format, we wrote collaborative persuasive pieces, which will be on display!  Later, we applied our writing skills to an individual task.

The most significant progress we made this week was in the development of our presentation skills. We improved our abilities in painting, cutting, gluing, and writing. Naturally, our clearing-up skills have also improved!

Wishing you a Happy Holi!

April 1 - 5, 2024

This week, we created a checklist to guide us on how to speak and what to say during our presentations. Some of the students continued to practice dance and panel discussions, while the rest of us practised our presentations until we got them right. Ms. Kamal reviewed our presentations, commended our work, and gave us some very helpful hints. Later, we played some games such as "Heads Down Thumbs Up" and "Cookie Jar." These games help boost our confidence and bond us as a team.