Science project information for Autumn 2011 2nd halfterm

October 30, 2011 By jj

Dear parents,

The project for this half-term is launched today and ties in with the children’s chemistry topics for this half-term. You can download the details here.

Can I remind you that the project is optional. This half-term’s project is for children who have a particular interest in chemistry and want to deepen their knowledge and understanding in this area.

Some children may want to undertake all six projects in the course of the year. Others may want to do just one project based on a topic they particularly enjoy. Others may decide not to do any science projects at all because their time is taken up with other hobbies and interests.

The project has one compulsory element. It must include one piece of work about a key scientist in the field, as set out overleaf. Otherwise, children are free to do as they please. However, I will always encourage children to include some ‘hands-on’ science, to carry out their own experiments and investigations. Projects will be marked under three headings – originality, content and presentation.

Children interested in the project can come to me for a list of websites to get them started. Books can be borrowed from the school library, and I will be available in the science lab every Wednesday lunchtime to guide and support children through their projects. I will also provide paper, scrap books and exercise books.

If you’d like to see what your child is doing this halfterm, the list of topics to be covered by each year group in the course of the year can be downloaded here.

I would be delighted to answer any questions.

Best wishes,

Mrs Cox
Science Teacher

General science or chemistry websites

http://www.chem4kids.com/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/famous-chemists.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/
http://www.encyclopediainteractica.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/
http://www.channel4learning.com/sites/essentials/science/index.shtml

Alfred Nobel
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ni-Pe/Nobel-Alfred.html

Marie Curie
http://www.hypatiamaze.org/curiforkids/curie_kids.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/curie_marie.shtml

Priestley
http://www.uselessinformation.org/priestley/index.html
http://www.josephpriestleyhouse.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/joseph-priestley-the-discovery-of-gases/2078.html

Mendeleyev
http://www.hobart.k12.in.us/ksms/PeriodicTable/mendeleev.htm
http://www.kidzworld.com/quiz/2820-quiz-the-periodic-table-of-elements-trivia

Filed Under: Science - Year 4, Students' work, Year 3 - Science, Year 5 - Science, Year 6 - Science

Science project information

September 24, 2011 By jj

Dear parents,

This is to inform you about a new initiative at Gatehouse, the Science Project.

The project is optional and is intended for keen young scientists in Years 3 – 6. Its aims are to encourage children to explore their interests and ideas and to deepen their knowledge and understanding.

There will be six projects across the academic year, one for each half-term. The project will be based on the topic being studied in class.

Projects will be set at the beginning of each half-term. You can download details of this half-term’s project here.

Each project will be due on the first day of the following half-term (except for the 2nd summer term project which will be due a week before the end of term). This allows children to finish their projects during the holidays. The project will replace the optional holiday homework I have set in the past.

Some children may want to undertake all 6 projects in the course of the year. Others may want to do just one project based on a topic they particularly enjoy. I hope, in this way, to draw in those children with a special interest in rocks or plants or space, for example.

The project has one compulsory element. It must include some information about a key scientist in the field. Otherwise, children are free to do as they please, though I will encourage them to include some ‘hands-on’ science, to carry out their own experiments and investigations. Projects will be marked under three headings – originality, content and presentation.

Children interested in the project will receive a list of websites to get them started. Books can be borrowed from the school library, and I will be available in the science lab every Wednesday lunchtime to guide and support children through their projects. I will also provide paper and exercise books.

I would be delighted to answer any questions. You can email me at rosie.cox@gatehouseschool.co.uk or catch me after school.

Regards.

Mrs Cox
Science Teacher

===

General science or biology websites

http://www.biology4kids.com/
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
http://www.kidsbiology.com/
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/
http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/
http://www.encyclopediainteractica.com/
http://www.ehc.com/vbody.asp (virtual body)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/
http://www.channel4learning.com/sites/essentials/science/index.shtml

Scientist websites

Aristotle
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/aristotle.html
http://greece.mrdonn.org/aristotle.html
http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0073-aristotle.php

Leonardo da Vinci
http://www.diaryof1.com/2008/02/17/leonardo-da-vinci-for-kids-2/
http://library.thinkquest.org/3044/

William Harvey
http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/williamharvey.html
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-9274787/William-Harvey

Louis Pasteur
http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdpast.htm
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/louispasteur.html

Filed Under: Science - Year 4, Students' work, Year 3 - Science, Year 4, Year 5 - Science, Year 6 - Science

Science topics for 2011-2012

September 12, 2011 By jj

Want to know what’s up next in science? You can download the 2011-2012 plan here.

Filed Under: Science - Year 4, Students' work, Year 3 - Science, Year 5 - Science, Year 6 - Science

Fun with science

September 12, 2011 By jj

Have fun with science! Carry out investigations – here is a guide on how to do them. There are also some fab science museums in London – if you are stuck for something to do, check them out.

Science Museum
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/

Natural History Museum
www.nhm.ac.uk/

Wellcome Collection
www.wellcomecollection.org/

The Chemistry Centre
www.rsc.org/AboutUs/ChemistryCentre/

Kew Gardens
www.kew.org/

Benjamin Franklin House
www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org

Brunel Museum
www.brunel-museum.org.uk

Florence Nightingale Museum
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk

Grant Museum of Zoology
www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology

Horniman Museum
www.horniman.ac.uk

Hunterian Museum
www.rcseng.ac.uk/museums

Kew Bridge Steam Museum
www.kbsm.org

Museum of St Bart’s Hospital
www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

Old Operating Theatre Museum
www.thegarret.org.uk

Royal Observatory
www.rog.nmm.ac.uk

Filed Under: Science - Year 4, Year 3 - Science, Year 4, Year 5 - Science, Year 6 - Science

Second halfterm summer 2011 – Year 5 Science

May 25, 2011 By jj

Water and how it changes from a solid to a liquid to a gas.

Think

  • How has the recent hot weather affected our rivers and streams?
  • Why do iceberg’s float?
  • Why do we spread salt on roads in the winter?
  • How cold does it need to be for water/wine/mercury to freeze?
  • How do cacti survive the desert?

Do

  • Keep a water diary for a day to find out all the different ways in which you use water every day.
  • Breathe on a mirror. What do you see? Why has this happened?
  • Investigate how temperature affects the time it takes for an ice-cube to melt. What will you change in your investigation? What will you keep the same to make sure it’s a fair test?
  • Sketch or take a photo of the clouds every day to show how they change in shape and colour.
  • Design your own weather symbols to use in weather reports for friends and family.

Find out

Filed Under: Year 5 - Science

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