Scintillating Science Fair Projects!

This term we had some independent learners who researched, explored and experimented and then got themselves ready for Science Fair!

This was work all done in their own time and we had 9 MLH entries.  The projects ranged from Holograms to Eggs and pretty much everything in between.

All of the entrants gave MLH a run down on their project and answered questions.  It was VERY interesting for us all!

We were lucky to have a science guru Dr Amber Dunn come in and judge for us and then a few of the projects went forward to the recent Tairawhiti Regional Science Fair.

Congratulations in our School Science Fair to:
Olivia - The Floating Egg (2nd)
Jett & Matai - Paper Planes (3rd)
and in the Regional Science Fair
Olivia - The Floating Egg (Silver)
Caitlyn & Kya - Waste Watchers (Silver - Technology)
Jett & Matai - Paper Planes (Bronze)

NZ Garden Bird Survey 2018

Today Moana 3 participated in the NZ Garden Bird Survey.  We went out for an hour to count particular birds such as the House Sparrow, Starling, Tui, Fantail, Magpie...

We learnt interesting information about these garden birds before we started and we added some research of our own along the way.  We also created masks of 18 different birds that are commonly found in gardens around NZ.

We sat around the field and while we waited and counted, we also completed some observational drawings of trees and leaves around us.

The survey is completed once a year by all sorts of volunteers and in different settings from homes, parks and schools.  It aims to show the numbers of birds in different areas around NZ and whether they are being affected by predators or not.

If you are interested in completing the survey this week at your place follow the link to... Landcare Research - NZ Garden Bird Survey 2018

Ready for Science Fair!!!

We have had a busy term with our Science focus of 'Eureka - we're about finding out!".

We have all completed lots of science experiments, discussed our results, asked questions, had wonderings, found out interesting facts and displayed our work.

Here is a selection of our science projects that have already made it to school - ready for viewing....

Egg-cellent Experiments!

The Pukeko reading group have been having lots of fun learning to make inferences and identify key information from texts.  We have also been tying our reading learning into our Science Fair term topic.

This week we are looking at 'The Acid Effect'!  Natalie bought some eggs from her chickens and Koka Ngaire bought the vinegar... we have put the egg into the jar with the vinegar and we are now leaving it for a week.

What can you see already happening?

We discovered that this is the calcium of the egg reacting with the vinegar (the acid) - the bubbles are the shell being dissolved by the acid (vinegar).

We can't wait to see what happens... our hypothesis is that we think the egg is going to lose its shell completely and be 'bendy'.

Our modifications - what acid did we use?

We thought about our previous experiment with acid's and came up with a modification to this experiment.  Looking at our earlier blogs - what acid do you think we have added to water to see if we can make the same reaction with the egg?











UPDATE: The egg has been in the vinegar for one week... today we took it out and had a feel and a look at what was left.  Ewwww... but exciting!  Listen to Izzy, Poppy and Santino explain the experiment and the results.
And for the big finale - WHAT WAS INSIDE THE EGG?
*We thought the egg may have 'cooked' from the vinegar
*We thought the white and yolk may be solid like a hard boiled egg

The results surprised us!!  And we were pretty impressed that the egg bounced!

Science Experiments in Reading...

We have a science focus this term to get ready for our Science Fair.  During reading workshop time, the Fantail & Pukeko groups have been reading about and completing some simple science experiments.

We discuss our hypothesis, method, results and make conclusions.  We also have been thinking about modifications that we could make if we complete the investigation again. 

Making crystals with Epsom Salts

We have looked at how puddles evaporate, what happens (reaction) when an acid is put with a non-acid and how crystals grow.





The crystals were great to watch because the Epsom Salt crystals starting growing almost straight away.  We learned that every type of chemical that makes a crystal grows a different way.  The epsom salt crystals are long.

What happens with baking powder,
baking soda, water
and vinegar

We were pretty excited about putting an acid (baking powder) with an acid (vinegar) and seeing the reaction - our hypothesis was that it would make a BIG FIZZ... and we were right!

Thinking about puddles & evaporation

When we read about evaporation, we learned that the sun plays a big part on how fast the puddles evaporate.  However, we also found that we did not complete a FAIR TEST.  We had a big discussion about what we could do better next time to make it a fair test.  Now we just have to wait for the sun to shine again!

Survival of the Fittest

Last term Moana 3 was lucky to have a student teacher working with us for 5 weeks.  Matua Stephen loved science and he shared this passion with us.

We are very proud of our animals that we created after learning about 'SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST' and what features predators & prey have..   How were these features decided?  By roll of the dice!!

From here we had to research and find out what features were best fit for our animal's environment. 

Our learning:

 if animals hunt - their eyes are at the front.

If animals hide - their eyes are at the side.

Sharp teeth (front & molars) for carnivores

Flat, square teeth for herbivores

A mix of both (like us) for omnivores.

Thanks Matua Stephen for sharing your knowledge with us - we are all so proud of our creatures!