Category: Science

Shell Sketches

2RF have been observing different shells closely, classifying them by their shape, colour and other features. We then did observational sketches of our shells.

 

Can I Identify Different Birds?

Why not find out about some of the wildlife around where you live by learning the names of the birds that you can see from your own home? There is more information on what to do in the video below or read the text at the bottom…

If the video does not play in your browser, click here.

Objective: To be able to recognise and name at least six different British birds.

Quick bird spotting guides:  Sheet 1   Sheet 2

How: Spend half an hour a day for a week quietly recording the birds you can see from a window. Putting out some food can help if you have any but avoid bread at this time of year as it is not good for chicks.

Can you find out which is the most common bird to visit your garden?

Challenge: Can you think of an investigation to carry out as you bird watch? Perhaps you think different birds will come at different times of the day – how could you find out? Or maybe you could investigate the birds’ favourite food? (Try sorting out some mixed bird seed). 

Stretching Our Learning

2RF having been investigating how objects can change shape when they are pushed, pulled, bent or twisted. This week we’ve been testing elastic bands to see which stretch the most. To make it a fair test we always hung the same weight from the elastic band before carefully measuring how much longer the elastic band is. We also watched some videos showing how scientists do similar tests on fabrics and metal bars to make sure they can do the job they are going to be used for.

Victorian Engineering

We’ve been learning about a Victorian engineer – French engineer Gustave Eiffel. He helped build the Statue of Liberty but, more famously, he also designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. We then had a go at creating our own towers using the ideas of a wide base and strong triangular shapes…

Tent Materials

Year 2 have been investigating different fabrics to see which were suitable for making a tent. We realised that the fabric had to be waterproof so Year 2 quickly got testing…

Sorting By Materials

Year 2 have started off their materials topic by sorting objects by what they were made from. Metal, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric… all very straightforward until we wondered where to put the scissors which had metal blades but plastic handles! 

Fortunately, we came up with the idea of overlapping the sorting hoops and it wasn’t before we spotted other objects were actually made of two or three different materials.

Going on a Tree Hunt

1KG had fun this week developing their map reading skills as they set off to find different trees around the school. Once found they needed to find out the tree’s name and sketch one of its leaves. We are lucky to have a lot of different trees at Lickey Hills!

Separating a Mess

What a mess! Coloured sand and pebbles, small bits of plastic and paperclips, not to mention some salt, had some how got all mixed together in the art cupboard. Could 5AB use their science knowledge and skills to solve this separation problem? Of course they could! Using magnets, sieves, filters, water and a bit of evaporation, all five materials were soon separated much to the relief of our school budget.

The Great Plant Hunt

Is our school field just grass with the occasional daisy? Far from it as LB2 found out when they took plant identification charts outside and found a large range of wild flowers lurking between the tufts of grass.

Invertebrate Safari

Year 4 set out to find and identify invertebrates in the wildlife garden and pond this week. We very excited to find a dragonfly larva – a good sign of water quality and we can’t wait to see the dragonflies flying around hunting.