Science Day

National Science week provides a wonderful opportunity for going 'off-timetable' although this certainly doesn't compromise the learning that takes place. A whole day of science provided oodles of learning and proved that science is certainly fun!

In Whitebeam we looked at two topics: flight and bubbles.

First we learned how aeroplanes actually managed to fly with different forces such as drag, lift, weight and thrust. Then came the fun part as we made different types of paper planes. These included 'jets', 'gliders' and 'helicopters', all of which needed a completely different design. Later on, we tested them in a 'competition' in the hall to see which could fly the furthest. All the helicopters rotated beautifully, some going clockwise, some anti-clockwise, with discussion and experimentation as to why this was.

The bubbles came next with making our own bubble mixture out of water, washing up liquid and glycerine. We tried different shaped 'blowers' to see if we could make different shaped bubbles, but they all came out spherical!  The only difference we could make was that small blowers produced small bubbles while bigger ones produced bigger bubbles. The surface tension of the soap and water mix holds the bubbles together when filled with air... that is, until you stick your finger in it!

"I loved making the helicopters, they were amazing how they spun round!"  Cicely

"Science Day was really good fun! Making the aeroplanes was the best part."  Didier