Sound work in Science in Year 4

Today we have been learning about sound: how it is made and how it travels.

Today we designed and carried out an experiment to find out which material made the egg shaker silent with the least number of layers.

Here are our wrapped up egg shakers. 

Can you tell the materials we used?

We used (top row l-r) brown paper, fabric (socks), tin foil; (front row l-r) paper towels, tissue paper and bubble wrap.

Many people predicted the tin foil would have the least layers because you can wrap it really tight and it doesn't have holes in. But actually it made the metal egg shaker just as loud. Our experiment showed that the brown paper had the least number of layers - 7 - and we thought perhaps that is why is is used for wrapping items to post.

Everyone enjoyed this experiment and we are going to explore pitch next week in science.

Fireworks in Year 4

In Year 4, we have been reading the novel The Firework Maker's Daughter.

As it was the last day of term, we had special permission to show the children some indoor fireworks - outside.  It was very sunny as you can see in the picture, but we thought Snakes Alive was the best one. There was also Disco Inferno, Sizzling Strobes, Flash Harry and Blazing Bengals.  None of them made a noise - they all made light or sparks.  There was a lot of smoke with some of them, so it was good we were outside.

Have you ever seen Indoor Fireworks?
Did you like them?

Green Council Recycling Games

Today, Becky Farminer from Southampton City Council Recycling Department came to talk to us about recycling and try out some games which will help us all to remember to recycle.

Here we are sorting out the waste into those that can be recycled and those that can't.

We found out that tin cans can be made into aeroplane parts!
We found out that you need to remove the lids and wash our bottles and we found out why that is important.

We are now experts in recycling so ask your Green Council rep what can and can't be recycled!
Do you think you know?

By the Green Council and Mrs Williams

2D's super science!

This term in science, we are learning about uses of everyday materials. We've already done some work on the properties of different materials, and we spent some time exploring how fabric could be used and what it feels and looks like.

This week, however, we started looking at how some things made of solid materials can be changed by twisting, bending, squashing and stretching. We did an investigation into paper with magnifying glasses to see what we could find.

Here are some pictures of us seeing what we could do with paper.

We are working towards choosing materials to use for building by using what we know about different materials and their properties.

Next week, we will be thinking about the different uses of paper and how the changes that we make can improve it, or make it worse. If you are in Year 2, have a think about the different ways that we can make paper stronger!