It’s the simple things….
This term has really brought it home how the simple things can really make an impact on our learning, to help embed knowledge and understanding of the world and make curriculum concepts come alive! Some examples…. for more detail see https://www.facebook.com/dolearn.co.uk
Our own whittled willow drum sticks
In P1/2 we have decided to explore communication in depth this year (i.e. what it involved [listening and talking to start} in various forms). In our first session (linked to sound & vibration - this term’s science focus), we whittled our own drum sticks and made shakers. One child then created a beat which we all replicated. The children took their drum sticks into class and have been using them in maths and language lessons for counting and phonics work. The children LOVE their drum sticks!
In P2/3 we explored clay. Why does it feel so smooth? Where can it be found naturally? We made our own mini rivers to see where ‘sediment’ dropped when meandering down a stream. We then realised why clay is SOOOOOO soft and fine in sediment. Finally, we created ‘river’ pots . This one has some “small stones at the bottom like a river does”.
Getting flour from wheat grains
In class, P4 were exploring Farming, so I decided we would create flour from wheat grain. We also planted our own ‘winter wheat’ and made a hurdle/wattle fence that in the past penned in sheep. The obsession and biggest learning moment came, however, from the small amount of flour we got from the grains of wheat and how much time it took to get enough flour for a loaf of bread. When I explained that in the past it was someone’s job to grind grain, the children expressed joy ‘thank goodness we have factories now- this takes ages’- although they really didn’t want to stop grinding up those wheat grains!
Weaving our own mini willow hurdle fence
In P5, the children continued the mission to finish our hurdle fence in the playground, but were SOOO fascinated by their own mini Hurdle fences in a wide range of designs,
exploring waves!
With P6 we were exploring waves - sound and light. Again, the simplest thing. We started with a physical wave. We saw how if we used a lot of energy the wave was short and fast. Less energy resulted in long and slow waves. This then moved us onto a range of discussions and experiments
Why the sky is blue (but sometimes red and yellow)- fast blue waves make it through, slow lazy waves only make it through when the sun is low in the sky (AM and PM).
How our mobile phones, WiFi and walkie talkies work (microwaves vs radio waves)
Different length instruments produce different tones due to the length of the vibrations.
How we can split a light wave to see the visible colours using a CD
and finally, how a convex magnifying glass can light some birch bark even on a cloudy day!
Yes even on a cloudy day we can use a convex lens to intensify light waves and make fire, if we have a little patience.
Simple sounds make amazing tunes !
Finally, after a bit of inspiration from Diego Stocco’s Burt’s bees track., P7 explored sound waves and pitch using Garage Band to record nature sounds or natural objects. We discussed wavelengths, changing pitch, and mixing sounds together to make their own track. P7 borrowed P1/2’s drum sticks for this session!
Plus, with input from 4 classes our hurdle fence was finally complete…