PR E PA R ATORY S C HO OL
National Science Week
To celebrate National Science Week this
year the Preparatory School held a Science
Discovery afternoon. Students were invited
to showcase their scientific inquiries, and
parents were invited along to view the
displays.
In the Early Learning Centre the children
displayed their work on the theme of
‘materials’ where they observed paper,
rubber, glass and plastic.
The year 1s showed off their green fingers
by growing wheat seeds to investigate what
plants need to grow, whilst Year 2 students
displayed their inquiries of mixtures, including
some fascinating colour changing milk.
Year 3 completed a whole circuit of activities
investigating how heat is transferred. They
then challenged themselves to design a
container to keep an icey-pole frozen for as
long as possible.
The Year 4s were working as geologists,
looking at crystals and how they grow. They
investigated what affect temperature had
on the growth of crystals, growing their
own colourful crystals to demonstrate what
happens inside and outside a volcano.
Year 5, who had been looking at states of
matter and how particles behave, displayed
a range of investigations. These included
how to make the perfect glue using flour
and water by looking at the viscosity of
liquids, as well as how kinetic theory
explains the behaviour of substances.
The Year 6s also challenged themselves,
with individual projects on display including
“how volcanos erupt” and “plastic not so
fantastic”, as well as investigations into the
density of liquids and what happens when
you mix them all together.
During the afternoon there was also the
opportunity to experience some science
activities when boys from the Senior School
came down to run some experiments,
including looking at magnetism,
chromatography, electricity and microscopes.
To finish off the afternoon, students
participated in The Great Egg Drop
Challenge. Students had to use their science
and technology skills to build an apparatus
that would allow their egg to survive the
drop from Mr Wight’s upstairs balcony. Many
eggs made the drop but only a few survived!
It was a fantastic afternoon that truly
showed the enthusiasm and scientific
curiosity students in the Preparatory School
have for Science.
Alexandra Hall
Senior School Science Teacher
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