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Science

Subject Lead: Mrs E Martindale

Science Curriculum 2023-2024

Exploring Science at The Ryde School

Science Displays Autumn 2023

Take a look at some of our fantastic science displays from this term. Class 6 have looked at classifying and grouping invertebrates. They created accurate models using research.

Class 1 have been looking at properties of materials and using scientific vocabulary to describe them.

Class 3 have been doing lots of investigations into rocks and fossils.

Class 1

Class 2

In class we have been learning about materials, their properties and how suitable they are for different purposes. We invited our parents in to help us investigate the best material to make tea bags from.

We made our predictions and designed our investigation. We kept the amount of tea in each bag the same and only changed the material. Most of us thought that the paper towel would not make a good tea bag because it would soak up too much water and fall apart letting all the loose tea out. We also predicted the tin foil would make a terrible tea bag because it is waterproof. Most of us predicted the felt would be the best material.

After our experiment we reflected on what we had learnt and the best option for tea bag material was… paper towel!

Our parent activity this term was linked to our learning in science on the suitability of materials. We started with a story “Poor Uncle Astro! He wants to make a nice cup of tea but he’s run out of tea bags. The shop is only selling packets of loose tea leaves. Uncle Astro doesn’t like tea leaves floating around in his drink and likes his tea a lovely light brown colour. Can you make him some tea bags?” In class we started by sharing our predictions on what material we thought would work best.
Isabel – “I think felt because it is thin and will let out the colour.”

Gabriel – “I think the fabric because it won’t break in the water.”

We then thought about how we could make sure it is a fair test. During the experiment, we would make sure to use the same amount of tea leaves, the same size of material and the same amount of dunking time. We completed the experiment with our grown-ups and recorded our findings. Back in class we shared our results:

Maddie – “Tissue paper looked like a real tea bag!”

Aubree – “Tin foil did not work because it was too thick.”

James – “I learnt that felt was the best because it made the right colour tea with no bits.”

Suitability of materials

 

We tested different materials to discover which would be best to make a pair of wellies. We considered how to make it a fair test and identified that it needed to be waterproof and strong

 

Alive, dead, never been alive.

We placed a hula hoop on an area of the field and used magnifying glasses to help us find things that are alive, dead or never been alive. We thought carefully about grass and had a discussion about whether it is alive or never been alive. Some of us thought it was never alive because it doesn’t have a heart.

 

Habitats

We created shoebox habitats. We used our previous learning from our school trip and lessons in school to help us think carefully about what animals need in their habitat to help them survive.

 

 

 

Class 3

Class 4

Class 5

Class 6

During OAA week 2023 we completed an investigation into paper aeroplanes. We thought about different questions we could investigate relating to paper planes, for example: Do larger planes fly further? Do heavier planes fly shorter distances? How does the size of the wings impact the distance the plane will fly? Each group designed their own investigation thinking carefully about the variables and how they would measure and collect their results.

We have been looking at light as one of our science topics over the last year. In one of our science lessons this term we made periscopes. We investigated how we could use mirrors to change the direction of light beams and to reflect an image you wouldn’t usually be able to see.