Science!

We have been learning about FORCE in Room 8.  We now know that FORCE is a push or a pull.  There are 2 types of force.  These are CONTACT force (where things touch each other to cause movement) or NON CONTACT force (where things don't need to touch to cause movement) such as gravity and magnets.

We have been experimenting with different products to learn more and form ideas about FORCE.  We played with marbles and realised that the bigger the push the faster the marbles move.  The marbles slow down on the carpet because of the friction of the carpet and the marble rubbing against the carpet.  Marbles roll further on paper because there is less friction or rubbing between the marble and paper.

Today we undertook a balloon and string experiment where we were trying to get a straw to move across a rope with no contact from us.  We did this by blowing up a balloon and using the air pressure that comes out as it deflates to move the straw.  We tried lots of different things and gained a clearer understanding of NON CONTACT FORCE.

Here are some photos and videos.

We used a range of products to test how we could make marbles move and stop.  

Experimenting with balloons and NON CONTACT FORCE

Experimenting with Apps

We have a new iPad in Room 8 and it is always exciting experimenting with new apps and technology.  Recently the boys in the class found an app that turned photos into sketches!  Here are a couple of pics they took!

A visit from Mr Currie

Recently we had a visit from Mr Currie and his guide dog.  Mr Currie is has been blind for a very long time.  He was not born blind but an eye problem caused him to go blind when he was a young man.  A student in our class, Talia,  had written a speech about what it would like to be blind and she had asked Mr Currie questions as part of the research for her speech.  It was so great to have Talia present her speech in front of the class and in front of Mr Currie, especially because much of the speech involved Mr Currie and his stories.  It was really brilliant having Mr Currie come into the class and answer all of our questions about blindness.  Here are some pictures.  It was really a GREAT experience!

Happy class

Here is a picture of some of the Room 8 crew!

Chicken visit

On Friday the 5th of August we had some very special visitors into Room 8, courtesy of Hanna and Jessie.  They both brought in their chickens for the day!  It was so great!   There were 3 hens and 1 rooster.  The new additions to the class settled in very nicely and the rooster even tried to roost in among some maths books!

We had many classes visit us to see our new classmates.  Room 3 were particularly interested in our guests because they are currently in the process of researching the viability of chickens at Gore Main School!  Room 3 had lots of questions for Hanna and Jessie, which they were easily able to answer.  Hanna and Jessie also wrote a report on caring for chickens for Room 3.

Everybody thoroughly enjoyed having the chickens in Room 8 for the day.  They were very well-behaved and did well to cope with the students looking at them and wanting to pat them.  Awesome Hanna and Jessie, what a great idea you both came up with.

Check out the pics and the video...