Messy Wednesday

Today we are going to be having a hands on day...

We will (attempt) to make kinetic sand and marshmallows and cloud dough and shaving dough and conditioner dough nappy science.

Click on the names of the activity to go to the link.

Happy holidays!!!

Non Standard Measurement

Today we learnt about non standard measurement. We found out that we can measure things without using a ruler. You just need to use things that are the same size and don't leave a space in between when you are measuring. Here are some photos of us;

Simple Machine Rap

Here is our Simple Machine Rap...

Write at least 3 of these raps in your literacy book and create an outstanding piece of visual language!  You must use your best handwriting.  I look forward to see your creations.

Learning anytime - anywhere!

We love it when the children are so motivated by what they are learning they go home and keep learning.  Here is a video of Elijah exploring the inclined plane at home.

Who else has been exploring simple machines at home?  Send us a pic or video and we can add it to the blog.

Ed-Heads Spot the Simple Machine Game

Are you a super simple machine detective???

Do you think you could spot a simple machine at a hundred paces?

WELL!  This is the game for you.

Click here to play the game.

Fun with Pulleys

A pulley makes work easier.

It is hard to lift a heavy load, but by using a pulley you need less force to lift the heavy load.

We had a lot of fun this morning exploring how to lift loads with a pulley.

We found out that:

You pull down on one end, you have weight on the other end.  Then the weight will go up.  Luke G

A pulley needs a simple machine called a wheel and an axle.  Layla

A pulley has 3 wheels at the top.  It takes less force to pull it down.  Jenaya

The more wheels you have the easier it will be to pull something heavy up.  Isaac

A type of machine that helps you lift something heavier.  You need less force to lift it.  Maidah

The pulley uses less force.  Layla

When we watched a video about pulleys we also found out that although it takes less force to lift an object with a pulley it does take longer.

How does a wedge make work easier?

What is a wedge?

Which is a wedge ....    A nail or a bolt?

The nail goes into the wood because it has a point (it is the wedge).  The bolt will not go in no matter how much force we use because it has no point.

When you hit the nail, your push the point or wedge of the nail into the wood.  You use a force on the head of the nail which then pushes the wedge into the wood, cutting it and making a hole in the wood.

What do we know about wedges?

If a wedge has a small angle it does it faster    Hannah Bella

It gives more force      Artemis

Made by 2 inclined planes            Artemis

Holds something together         Micah

Stop things from rolling down hills      Bailey

If you squash a wedge down the end bit will be more helpful    Hamish

A wedge works by moving     

The force is pushing in further to cut or carve                 Sophie

A wedge helps stuff to stay in place     Bailey

Use a wedge to stop a heavy load from moving        Hamish

A wedge is something you can cut something with - Ayla

A wedge has a sharp end so you can slice open wood - Hunter T

A wedge can be a sharks tooth - Emma

Can be an axe - Sam

Can be a blade on a tractors plough - Hunter B

If you push it really hard a wedge will cut something into pieces - Hunter T

A wedge is 2 inclined planes joined together - Emily

A wedge holds things in place - Sam 

A wedge works by moving - 

A wedge can be used to lift heavy things - Maidah

Inclined Plane

Last Friday we explored an incline plane

WALT – think creatively and problem solve

Using only what we can find in the classroom

Design a track for the toy car using classroom materials

The car needs to be able to travel ALONG the track for 20 cm

It needs to have a ramp – which the car then travels by its own momentum for the longest distance off the ramp

Pulleys

Today we watched a clip about pulleys and how they work.  CLIP

We brainstormed what we already know about pulleys:

We also had some questions (wonderings):

1. Is the part that we pull on a curtain a lever? - 
2. Can you use a pulley to move a bed? - HL
3. Does a pulley have to be on a wall (up high) or can it be on the floor - JW