STEM

Woodland classroom: identifying and classifying

In forest school today, we completed a minibeast hunt and a tree hunt, using classification keys to identify the living things in our woodland area. We completed sketches and bark rubbings of the things we had found and enjoyed a drink and a biscuit. When the swimming group returned to school, we had some time for woodland play.

Time: matching analogue and digital clocks

Grouping and classifying living things

In Science we have learned what characteristics animals have to help them survive in their habitats. We have grouped them according to these characteristics. Today we learned about the names of different animal groups, and played a racing game in the outdoor classroom, finding animals and returning them to their groups. Finally, we used animal cards and discussed ways to sort ourselves. We constructed a classification key on the playground for our animals. We then swapped cards with someone else and used the key to find our new places on the key.

Roman Legacy: food

For healthy living week this week, we completed our work on Roman Britain by looking at healthy fruits and vegetables first introduced to Britain by the Romans. We recapped our knowledge of food hygiene and safety before practising the bridge hold and claw grip to cut and slice of variety of these foods. Some of us also had a go at using peelers and shelling peas! We all enjoyed tasting our favourites and trying new fruits and vegetables, such as figs, dates, radishes and artichoke.

Exploring sound over distance: how can volume be affected?

Working scientifically: a test to find patterns between volume and vibration using rice drums

Quiet noise = weak vibrations

Getting louder

The loudest!

Finding patterns between pitch and features of the objects making the sound

New life! Meeting the hatchling chicks

Finding fractions of sets of objects and amounts

What causes sound? Exploring cup-and-string telephones to answer scientific questions

Modelling the flow of electrons in series and parallel circuits

Investigating area

Planting daffodil bulbs in the woodland classroom

Making a doorbell

Today we used our knowledge of circuits to design and make a doorbell. We had to think about which types of switch would work best for our design, and used buzzers to test our circuit ideas.