Term 2 Science

Before we embark on our next exciting Science Unit for Term 3, I thought it would be nice to summarise some of the inquiries that took place in Term 2.

We began by investigating “Light.” We brainstormed what we thought we knew and what we’d like to know.

From our posed questions, we conducted some simple experiments to try and explain how light travels and helps us to see.

Using a “peek box,” we learned that light is needed to see any object. Light reflects off an object into our eye and allows us to see. To demonstrate our understanding, we drew ray diagrams showing the path and direction of the light.

    

       

Our next challenge was to try and make light go around a large box. Each team was given a large box, a torch, an object for the light to shine on and a mirror. We were then left to our own devices to see if we could make it happen!

It was noted that some materials were especially good at reflecting the light. So what happens to light with materials that aren’t so reflective? Based on what happened to the light, we classified materials as either transparent, opaque or translucent.

                  

We researched the contribution Galileo made to our scientific understanding. Ask your children what he invented and how it worked!

Galileo’s invention allowed people to discover more about space and from here our unit moved into learning more about our solar system.  We made models to demonstrate how the Earth revolves around the sun and the moon revolves around the Earth.

Again in teams, we each researched the key features of a different planet of the solar system. 

                       

We then compared how long each planet takes to orbit the sun. A scaled model of the solar system was then created by taking our planets down to the Valley and measuring the distance of each planet from the sun. The distances are extraordinary - we couldn’t even fit Neptune in!