Science and Technology

Science is Fun!

We did an experiment on surface tension...Check out the videos below.

For more science experiments, have a look at Science Fun. 

Check out this amazing Online Nature Classroom in Taupo. There's a whole section on Fungi Fun.

Would you like to make a magic potion? Have a look at this nature scavenger hunt and collect the ingredients on your next bubble walk.

Click here for more instructions: Magic Potion Scavenger Hunt

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Here is a STEM challenge that you can do at home, along with some fun links to explore a little more about how boats float. 

Click here for the challenge: Paper Boat Challenge

Planting Seeds and The Life Cycle of a Bean

The Organs of the Human Body

Tensegrity Structure

Here's something which I thought was super interesting and weird and mind-blowing!

If you're interested in giving it a try, here's where I found the instructions:

How to Build a Tensegrity Structure

Dax had a go making a Tensegrity structure out of Lego:

Harrison made his own Tensegrity model - strong enough to support a ruler!

Science Experiment: How do Leaves Breathe?

Here is a science experiment you can try. You will need:

• 1 large green leaf
• A large bowl 
• Some water

Method

1. Find a sunny place outside for your bowl.
2. Fill the bowl with water
3. Place the leaf in the bowl and make sure it is completely submerged. Weigh it down with a small stone if needed.
4. Wait and observe.

Result

You will notice that small bubbles start appearing on the leaf's surface.

Why does this happen?

Do you remember Rachael's lesson on how leaves breathe? Watch it again if you need to - it's called Function of a Leaf. Do you remember the stomata on the leaf's surface? And how Photosynthesis works, creating oxygen? Well, when you place the leaf underwater, it still does it's food factory work. But now you can actually see the little bubbles of oxygen being formed.

Does it still work if you use a yellow Autumn leaf? Why, or why not?

Arrangements of leaves lesson

Part 1

Arrangements of leaves lesson

Part 2

Arrangement of leaves follow up

Go on a nature walk in your garden or neighbourhood and find 5 different arrangements of leaves, then answer the following questions:

1. Do you think all the leaves from the arrangements you have found are getting sunlight? Did you notice differences in plants in different areas on your nature walk? 

2. Why are there less leaves near the trunk or base of the plant?

3. What is the most important job of a leaf?

4. How does oxygen and carbon dioxide get in and out of the leaf?

If you're not sure how to answer these questions, watch the videos again.

Find a way to show your learning of the above questions, some ideas may include a picture, a piece of writing, a presentation or make your own lesson video and share it with a friend.  Remember whatever you decide to do please share it with us too.


Check out this Nature Scavenger Hunt

Collect a variety of things from nature over the weekend and check off the list which ones you found by clicking the link below.  Show your learning in a creative way and email it to Rachael and Mireille.

https://www.therm.co.nz/blogs/outdoor-activities-boredom-busters/nature-scavenger-hunt-printable

Function of a Leaf

Here is a lesson on how a leaf functions.  As part of your follow up, create your own impression of a leaf factory and explain how a leaf gets its food.

Parts of a Leaf

Here is a lesson on some of the parts of a leaf. I hope you enjoy the lesson!

Parts of a fruit

This is one of my favourite lessons, because you can eat the work afterwards!

Harrison's Dancing Ghost

For this experiment, you need:

Tissue paper (a normal blow-your-nose kind of tissue)

Pen

Scissors

Sellotape

Balloon

Draw a ghost shape on the tissue and cut it out. Stick the bottom end of the ghost to the table with the sellotape. Blow up the balloon nice and big, and tie a knot in it. Rub the balloon on your hair to create static electricity, and bring the balloon close to the ghost. Can you make your ghost dance without touching it?

Thanks Harrison for sharing your photos! The experiment comes from Heihei.co.nz's Kitchen Science.

Rube Goldberg Machine

A Rube Goldberg Machine is a type of machine which is intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way. It is usually made by a series of simple machines, such as levers or pulleys, and the action of each device triggers the next.

Building these machines encourages creative thinking, problem-solving, perseverance, and resilience. It takes a long time and a lot of work to be successful!

There are many examples on YouTube of Rube Goldberg machines, but rather than looking at them and thinking 'that's too hard for me', here are a couple which we created in our own homes on Saturday. Dax, Mieke and Mireille each made one, and then linked ours up.

This is one part of our machine. Look closely and you'll see it says 'KAURI' somewhere! Can you figure out what happens here? Hint: The marble starts on the top right when it comes out of the white tube.

Gryff having a go, using different simple machines to create his very own Rube Goldberg Machine. (He had a little bit of help from his daddy.) This video is shown in slow motion so you can clearly see how each action causes another.

Have a go at making your own Rube Goldberg machines! We look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Brody's Icy Autumn Wreath

Coco's Experiment

Shallow plate

Food colouring

Milk

Dishwashing liquid

Cotton tip

Pour a small amount of milk in the bottom of your plate

Add drops of food colouring to the milk

Dip cotton tip into some dishwashing liquid

Gently submerge the cotton tip into the food colouring blobs and and slowly move around and watch what happens

LOVE COCO

xxooxxoo

Living and Non-Living

Begin thinking of what you know about living things.

What are some examples of living things?
What are some examples of non-living things?
How can you tell if something is a living or non-living thing?
Is there a difference between living things and things that are alive? Is there a difference between non-living things and dead things?
Can a living thing ever become a non-living thing?
Can a non-living thing ever become a living thing?

If you were writing rules that explain how to tell whether something is living or not, what would they be? Start each rule with “All living things . . .”

Living and non-living activity

Use a magazine to cut out and stick or look through various books, or things around your house to draw into a chart that categorises items into living and non-living things.

Make a rainbow in a jar.

This science experiment can be done in your kitchen (with your parent's permission!).
Click on this link:
Make a rainbow in a jar

Do you have some lego at home?  Have a go at these fun Lego challenges.

Invisible Ink

Use lemon juice to make invisible ink that can only be seen when held up to a heat source.

Step 1 Gather your ingredients and tools. For this experiment, you need a piece of paper, a cotton swab, a heat source (a lamp or electric stove works), and milk or lemon. 

Step 2

If you are using lemon juice, squeeze your lemon into a glass. You can mix it with a little bit of water. Dip your cotton swab into the milk or lemon juice and start writing your message. Let your message dry completely.

Step 3

Once dry, an adult should hold the sheet of paper over a heat source. We used an electric stovetop. You can also use a lamplight or blow-dryer.

Step 4

As the milk or lemon “ink” heats up, it will oxidise and turn brown. You can try this experiment with other substances such as vinegar, honey, or orange juice.