SCIENCE, SCIEnce, science!

We've been investigating rocks as part of our Science learning this term. So far, we've looked at the earth's layers and rocks.

We've also tested a HEAP of rocks using the scratch test, another test for hardness using Fredreich Moh's ( a German minerologist) hardness scale and the acid test.

We were able to categorise rocks into 3 types - sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. We researched the qualities/characteristics of these different rocks.

Next, we investigated the rock cycle with the help of wax crayons.

First we 'weathered' our rocks. This meant grating crayons.

 
Next, we wrapped our 'weathered rocks' in tin foil and applied pressure using clamps. This was to create sedimentary rocks.

 
After applying the pressure, we unwrapped our tin foil to examine how 'rock fragments' had formed.
We observed that they had compacted together. The 3 colours had formed layers. The fragments were hard but still crumbly. This was our sedimentary rock.

 
The next step was to wrap the sedimentary 'rock' up again. This time, we were investigating metamorphic rocks. We applied a lot more pressure with our clamps this time and left the foil packages clamped overnight.

 
We then unwrapped our metamorphic rocks.

 
We observed that our metamorphic rocks were much harder. The crayon fragments were very tightly compacted. It was stronger than the sedimentary rocks.

Then, we investigated igneous rocks. We melted half of the metamorphic rock put the melted 'rock' in the freezer to cool quickly. We melted the other piece and cooled it slowly, at room temperature. We observed that the igneous 'rock' that had cooled quickly was smooth, very thin and glass like. The 'rock' that had cooled slowly, was much thicker and had little bubbles trapped in it.

Igneous 'rock' that has cooled slowly.

Igneous 'rock' that has cooled quickly.

We learnt lots about the rock cycle by testing, observing, discussing and recording.

'Quake City' and 'Rock On!'

Last Tuesday we traveled by bus to the inner city to experience the science behind earthquakes at 'Quake City' and then walked to the Canterbury Museum to 'Rock On' and learnt about igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. This was part of our geology based inquiry called 'Rocks Talk' which is all about land formations and their causes. It was extremely informative and interesting. We really enjoyed ourselves and the learning!

 

 

 

     

 

Our Popcorn Containers!

Check out the variety of containers! Some of us were very close so we will decide on the winner tomorrow...

A cylinder, just shy of a few pieces...

The popcorn falls a wee bit short of the top..

About half the popcorn fits in to this container

Really interesting shaped container. Just a little large...

This container is a bit skinny! They realised they would need to increase the base size

A cone shape! Not quite big enough...

Very close to the top - Finalists!

Another container in the top 4! Extra frill on design...

Pleased to be in the top 4!

Lid on the design and finalists! They were going to change their dimensions but changed their mind at the last minute!

Volume Investigation 2 (too)

We were given a task in pairs to design a container that held exactly 293 pieces of popcorn for a new movie theatre opening in town. The only constraints were that the popcorn had to be as close to the top of the container as possible without spilling over. There were different shaped containers and a variety! All we had was 10 pieces of popcorn to help us estimate what 293 might look like. There was lots of discussion and problem solving and different ways that pairs came up with the sizes for their containers.

We are having a competition tomorrow to find out the winner as 4 pairs were very close!

 

 

Volume Investigation

We have been investigating volume in maths which brings in so many other maths skills! We discovered several formulas that worked, for working out the volumes of different sized boxes during the investigation. Some of us are creating different sized boxes to work out the maximum possible volume, others are creating boxes to hold a certain number of 'branbix' and others working out volumes involving decimals...

Luring Ladybirds

Some Room 3 children have created a ladybird garden based on their inquiry from last term 'The Secret Lives of Living Things.' Ladybirds like umbrella shaped flowers that are wide so they can land on them easily. They also love herbs. 

Some of the flowers and herbs ladybirds like are parsley, coriander, fennel, dill and angelica. They love cosmos, alyssum, geraniums and dandelions. Ladybirds also like cornflowers, especially the blue ones!

One of the girls wanted to attract ladybirds because they are beneficial in pollinating flowers. They are also predatory insects that help control garden pests. The girls painted their planter box in the colours of a ladybird. They have planted alyssum and parsley around the edge with blue cornflowers and mixed cornflowers in the middle.

Our Bee Friendly Plant Expert

Last Friday we had Laura come to see the 'bee inquiry group' from the nursery. She was talking to us about ways we could attract more bees to Ilam School, primarily through their food source, flowers!

It turned out, we knew more about bees and their roles than Laura did and she said that she had learnt a lot! However, we learnt a lot from Laura about the kinds of flowers bees like and how to grow them.

We are going to grow some of the flowers bees like from seed over the winter and then plant them into some of the gardens around our school. 

Bees love blue and violet flowers and they see in ultra violet light. 

They like yellow flowers too.
Bees also recognise patterns in flowers.

Herbs bees like: Borage, Rosemary, Lavendar, Sage, Fennel

Perrenials bees like: Salvia, Gaura 'Ballerina Blush', Sedum

Vegetables bees like: Bees like all vegetables that flower

Companion Plants for Vegetables and Herbs: Nasturtiums, Marigolds, Calendula, Poppies

We came up with some important reasons for planting a bee friendly garden:

1. We can provide them with food. They take the pollen and turn it into honey to feed their hive and us!

2. If we plant flowers, it also encourages other insects like wasps, butterflies and ladybirds.

3. Bees pollinate flowers to create other flowers. When the bee fertilises the flower it turns into seeds to create more flowers. Some of the seeds grow into seedpods that we eat such as apples or pumpkins.

4. Without bees, we would lose 1/3 of the world's food supply.

5.  It would make Ilam School more attractive.

6. Teachers and kids could go out to observe the garden, the flowers and the insect life.

7.  People will think Ilam School is nice and we will attract more kids. 

Fertilising For The Future with the Christchurch City Council

Last week as part of our inquiry "The Secret Lives Of Living Things, we went to the Eco Centre in Bromely for a trip called "Fertilising For The Future!" This was all about using organic waste and turning it into natural fertilisers. We layered ingredients to make hot compost and we learnt about the fermentation of food using EM Bokashi. Most exciting of all was making our own EM Bokashi mix which we were allowed to take home. At the moment, we have it at school and are waiting for it to ferment. If the mixture is just right, it will grow a white mould. If we added too much liquid to our mixture, it may grow the bad kind of mould, the bluey greeny stuff. But Chris did say if that happens 'all is not lost!' We can throw it into the garden as a fertiliser. Check out the photos below.

P.S. If you're wondering about the crazy hair and the brightly coloured clothes it was Wig Wednesday that day :)