Term 3

Feel the Force

 Learning about:

❄️ Forces ❄️ Air resistance ❄️ Gravity ❄️ Weight distribution ❄️ Making predictions ❄️ Making a fair test ❄️ Curiosity ❄️ Being active ❄️ Having fun with science

We had 3 ‘forces’ experiments to explore;

air resistance - using parachutes

pulleys and levers - using catapults 

pressure - using a paper cup

We started by asking the question, ‘Is it possible to stand on a paper cup without crushing it?’ We discovered that it is providing the weight is distributed evenly.  It was great fun, if somewhat scary!  We managed to stack the levels and got up to 3 layers!

We wanted to know if we could transport a ball further by throwing it with a human arm or a catapult. The prediction was that the catapult would be more effective but this didn’t necessarily prove to be the case. As often happens, we learnt more from the things that didn’t go to plan and we realised that human and equipment error is a big factor in the outcome. 

We also experimented with different types of balls, a tennis ball, a hollow,smooth, plastic ball with holes in it and a fluffy ball. We discovered that the weight of the ball and the material it was made from effected its air resistance and ability to fly into the wind. 

Term 2 December 2019

Wooden Christmas Crafts

Using tools for wood craft helps develop many skills including;

🌿 Fine motor skills 🌿 Focus 🌿 Risk assessment and management 🌿 Patience and determination 🌿 Creativity 🌿 Self esteem 🌿 Sense of achievement 🌿 Problem solving.

Learning can be so much fun! Here are a few of class 5’s creations.

Term 1 September 2019

Experimenting with Non Newtonian substances has got to be one of the best science lessons ever! The children were so engaged with the process of making Oobleck; working out the best corn flour to water ratio to make the perfect substance. They explored its bizarre properties for such a long time, saw how it became less liquid as the water evaporated into the air and joined forces and worked together as one team added too much water and ran out of flour. The best fun and most learning ever to be had from a 85 pence box of corn flour.

One group stumbled across a dead mouse during the afternoon and spent some time investigating how they thought it had died. Only by looking closely at nature can we truly begin to love, respect and in turn, look after, this amazing world we live in.  Once thoroughly explored, the children gave the little fellow a truly honourable Ancient Egyptian style burial, complete with tasty treats to take to the next world.

Term 6 June 2019

The children have been learning how to weave in class and we decided to develop this further outdoors. During this session they were learning about:

🌿creativity 🌿 plant identification 🌿 imagination 🌿 focus 🌿 confidence 🌿 independence 🌿 self esteem 🌿 connecting with nature 🌿 having fun.

Take a look at some of their creations.

Term 4 March 2019

This term class 5 had an afternoon of den building and co-operative games.  Through these experiences the children were learning about:

🌿 Being active 🌿Responsibilty 🌿Recognising and managing risk 🌿Self reliance

🌿 Achievement 🌿 Connecting with nature 🌿 Maths 🌿 Teamwork 🌿 Listening skills

🌿 Architecture  🌿Communication 🌿Problem solving 🌿 Co-operation 🌿Perseverance 

🌿The benefits of learning through play.

The outdoor iPad froze so there are no photos to show the range of experiences the children had during this session but they were many an varied.

The Magic Carpet game proved to be the biggest challenge and therefore provided the most learning experiences. In this game a group of children have to turn over the tarpaulin they are standing on without stepping off it. It’s hard. It relies on everyone working together, listening to each other, working out the principle of how it can be done and then implementing the idea and, when it fails, having the persistence to keep on trying. 

It is always fascinating to watch this game play out. It invariably leads to questions about the pros and cons of democracy verses dictatorship in government, with most people thinking that a benign dictatorship would be the best option - providing they were in charge! This game generally leads to at least one person storming off in frustration, a few people giving up very quickly and the appearance of an agitator who deliberately tries to sabotage the proceedings.  The children learn a bit about the difficulties of consensus and they generally can see the parellels between themselves and adults trying to get uncooperative children to do as they are asked. It’s a brilliant game.  Try it some time. 

Term 3 January 2019

In this outdoor learning session, we had the opportunity to put our theoretical knowledge of forces into practice. We were learning a bit about:

  Forces  Air resistance  Gravity  Parachutes  Making predictions

  Pulley and levers  Pressure and weight distribution 

 Making a fair tests  Making systematic observations and measurements 

 Asking questions that can be investigated scientifically to decide how to find answers

 Testing ideas using evidence from observation and measurements

 Using observations, measurements and other data to draw conclusions  

 Curiosity  Focus Communication Physical activity

 Having fun with science

The children have been looking at air resistance and we created an experiment using a

parachute to enable us to 'Feel the Force' for ourselves. Some of the results weren't what the children had predicted and there was much discussion as to why this might have been.

We looked at pulleys and levers when propelling an object. As often happens, we learned more because of what didn’t go as expected as what did. The children decided that they need more practice using the slingshot in order to get the results they had predicted.

We had fun answering the questions, “Is it possible to stand on a paper cup without breaking it?” Distributing our body weight over a greater surface area means that it is possible. Next time a bed of nails anyone?!

As often happens outside, we came across something so beautiful and interesting that we had to deviate off topic for a while in order to appreciate the wonders of our incredible world. Icy spiders webs really are stunning and it led to interesting questions about where the spider might have gone and what we could use spider webbing for.

Term 1 September 2018

Experimenting with Non Newtonian liquids has got to be one of the best science lessons ever! The children were so engaged with the process of making Oobleck working out the best corn flour to water ratio to make the perfect substance. They explored its bizarre properties for such a long time, saw how it became less liquid as the water evaporated in the air and joined forces and worked together as one team added too much water and ran out of flour. Who knew that so much fun and learning can be had from a 75 pence box of corn flour.

We also thought about bears and discussed the controversial topic of re-wilding. The children shared their opinions about the pros and cons of reintroducing bears into the U.K.. They were very considered in their responses, a few of them saying that they wanted time to think about it as they had never given the subject any thought. We played a hibernating bear game where the children had to take the bears food store without disturbing the bear.  We had mixed success, it’s probably a good job there aren’t bears in Stanley, many of us may not have survived. 

Term 5 May 2018  

More outdoor physics, this time in the guise of throwing water bombs! We were looking at catapults and how they propel an object by transferring the stored energy in the rubber bands to the only moveable object - the water balloon.  They had to think about the ratio of speed angle and distance. They tried to make the experiment consistent by putting the same amount of water into each balloon - with variable degrees of success! Good thing it was a warm day😄

Term 4 March 2018

Class 5 had a STEM based outdoor session this half term.  We were looking at air resistance and created an experiment using a parachute to enable us to 'Feel the Force' for ourselves. There was serious debating and concentration when deciding how to conduct the tests and fierce determination during the tests themselves. Some of the results weren't what the children had predicted and there was much discussion as to why this might have been.

As often happens outside, we came across something else so fascinating that had to be investigated.  We couldn't decide which creature the foot belonged to or how it came to be in the middle of the field but there were some very inventive suggestions made.  If you can identify it - please let us know.

Outdoor learning might look to some like children 'just messing around on the field' and even the children themselves said that they didn't think it was a 'proper lesson' because it was 'so much fun'. But, of course, that is the whole point.  Engaged children who are having fun, using all their senses, learn things without it being a chore.  These are some of the things they were learning about.

  Forces Air resistance Gravity Parachutes  Making predictions

Making a fair tests Making systematic observations and measurements 

Asking questions that can be investigated scientifically to decide how to find answers

Testing ideas using evidence from observation and measurements

Using observations, measurements and other data to draw conclusions 

Curiosity Focus Communication Physical activity

Having fun with science!

Working with tools to make wooden crafts develops many skills including:

🌿Problem solving 🌿Concentration 🌿Creativity 🌿Fine motor skills 🌿Assessing and managing risk 🌿Resilience and perseverance 🌿Sense of achievement 

Learning can be so much fun. Here are class 5 at work.

Class 5 have been looking at solids and liquids and their properties. We had brilliant, creative, experimental, messy times making our own Non Newtonian liquid - definately best done outdoors!

We were also able to think about some of the creatures we share out planet with and to look closely at a deer skull. We spoke about the impact that a species can have on the environment if it has no natural predator and why it might be necessary, unpleasant as it may seem, for man to intervene for the greater good of the natural world. This topic caused lots of discussion and debate.