Science

Week 1  - Jan 2022

This half term I am delighted to be able to keep you updated with all the latest Science learning that is taking place throughout our school.

EYFS will be continuing to develop their scientific vocabulary, observations and skills, whilst Years 1 – 6 will be focusing on their respective Light and Astronomy units. For KS1 and UKS2, this involves trips to Space, whereas LKS2 will be learning all about ‘Light and Shadows’.

EYFS have successfully defeated Green Goblin this week who had frozen all their numbers! The children rescued the numbers whilst also developing their scientific vocabulary by using terms such as melting, frozen and ice – true superheroes!

KS1 began their space adventure by learning the names and order of the planets from the Sun. In UKS2, children started with a rather simple question, ‘How was the Solar System formed?’. They role-played a massive cloud of gas and dust collapsing under its own gravity, rotating and becoming smaller and hotter as it did. They also had fun colliding into each other to re-enact the way gas and dust orbiting the young sun formed planetesimals. They even discussed thermonuclear fusion!

Finally, LKS2 have learned all about sources of light, reflection and how light travels in straight lines. They made a dark ‘cave’ in their classrooms and tested their predictions of which colours would be easiest or hardest to see in the dark. They also learnt how our eyes adjust to low levels of light.

Great Science all!

 

Week 2

What a wonderful week of Science we have had at The Gates!

EYFS have been following instructions to create their own playdoh. The children discussed how the mixture changed when they added water and used some great descriptive vocabulary such as sticky, wet and slimy.

In KS1, children have been looking at the space travel timeline. They learned all about some of the major events in space travel, even learning that some animals have been to space.

LKS2 have been learning all about reflective materials as part of their Science this week. Children made predictions about which materials would be most reflective in the dark, then they put their predictions to the test and observing results.

Finally, our UKS2 scientists spent some time recapping their knowledge on why we have day and night before learning how the tilt of the Earth determines our seasons as we orbit the sun.

Week 3

What another fantastic week of Science we have had at The Gates!

What do you call someone who rescues a superhero? Brave? Powerful? Magic? Nope, the answer is a scientific thinker from Penguins Class! This week, Penguins have been investigating which materials would help melt, or keep cool, the frozen superhero. They made some excellent predictions and really enjoyed putting them to the test!

 In KS1, children have been investigating why we have day and night. They learnt that the Earth rotates on its axis and that when the side of the Earth is facing the Sun, it is daytime and when it is facing away, it is night time. They also enjoyed putting this to the test using their observation skills.

LKS2 have had a very busy week. They have explored a range of vocabulary linked to light and dark and have been investigating whether a material is opaque, transparent or translucent. Their investigations led them to conclude that cotton was the best material to use for a set of curtains in a baby’s bedroom.

Our eldest children have been learning all about the phases of the moon this week. They learned that the Moon is a natural satellite that orbits the Earth and that we only every see the same side of it. Through demonstrations and observations, children were able to confidently draw and label the different moon phases.

 Well done everyone – I can’t wait to see next week’s Science learning!

Week 4

The Gates’ scientists have been very busy this week!

Last week, EYFS were rescuing superheroes; this week they have been making noodles dance! They mixed water, vinegar and baking soda with the noodles and used their observation skills to explain what happened. There were explosions, fizzing and bubbles I believe – that sounds such fun I might try that myself!

In KS1, children used Oreo cookies to help them create the phases of the moon. They learnt about the new moon, crescent moon, half moon, gibbous moon and full moon.

LKS2 have been busy planning investigations this week. They planned an experiment looking at how shadows change depending on their distance from a light source. They decided what equipment they would need and how they would record results. I can’t wait to see what they find out next week!

Finally, children in UKS2 have been learning all about the relative sizes of the planets in our solar system. They used an Earth measurer, rulers and some Maths to calculate the diameters of each planet and also learned all about terrestrial planets, gas giants, and ice giants.

Well done everyone – I can’t wait to see next week’s Science learning!

 

Week 5

Let’s see what everybody has been up to in this final Science subject spotlight update.

I had the pleasure of seeing some of the Science learning in KS1 this week and I left very impressed with what I saw! The children showed some great enthusiasm, knowledge and engagement toward the subject and looked like they were having lots of fun whilst learning about we have day and night. They used play dough and pencils create Earth and it axis and torches to represent the sun.

This week, LKS2 had fun experimenting. Following on from their planning last week, children conducted an investigation into how shadows change size when a light source is moved further away from an object. The children made predictions about the size of the shadow and then drew bar charts to show our results. Great Maths links too!

Finally, children in KS1 and UKS2 had a special visit from Wonderdome on Friday morning. Children were fully immersed inside the mobile planetarium and learned lots more about our Solar System.

What a great way to wrap up an exciting half term of Science. Great work Science Explorers!