Year 2 Science
Experiments and Investigations during Science Week
On Monday March 12th, Science Week began with a whole school assembly and we then went back to our classes to carry out our first investigation. For this, each table group were given a packet of Skittles sweets and some warm water. They had to make the skittles into a pattern in a plastic bowl and then added warm water to see what would happen. The children had made predictions and watched to see if their predictions were correct. They were absolutely amazed at the results!
Making Rafts for the Billy Goats Gruff
On Wednesday March 14th, we joined together in mixed groups with Year 1 to design and make rafts. We had to choose the materials we would use, construct the raft and then test it on the water. Afterwards we talked about what had worked well and how we would improve our rafts if we repeated the investigation.
Year 2 Science- Handwashing
As part of our work about Animals and Humans in the Autumn Term, we talked about how to keep clean and healthy. To tie in with our DT, the children designed and made healthy sandwiches. Then, in our Science lesson, we tested the most effective way to wash our hands. We discovered that hands are cleaner when washed using warm water and soap.
Animals and Humans Topic
This term we have been looking at how animals and humans grow and develop and what they need to survive. The children have been sorting food into groups, for instance: ‘healthy and unhealthy’ or ‘meat, vegetables and dairy’. They have also been introduced to the food groups like proteins and carbohydrates and studied the Eatwell Plate to see what makes a healthy diet.
During another lesson the children predicted and then discovered how much sugar is contained in different types of drinks. There were some surprises!
During another lesson the children predicted and then discovered how much sugar is contained in different types of drinks. There were some surprises!
Our Y1 Work
Ducklings
RSPB
On Thursday May 4th, Year 1 had a visit from a representative from the RSPB. She gave a presentation to the children about different plants, animal and how to look for habitats in our local environment. In small groups, the children were given equipment like magnifying glasses, binoculars and collection pots.
They were also given ‘Spot It’ guides with pictures of items to look for and tick off. The children went out to explore and observe on our school field, the playgrounds and the Sensory Garden. They were encouraged to collect minibeasts in their collection pots to look at more closely and then return them carefully to their natural habitat.
They were also given ‘Spot It’ guides with pictures of items to look for and tick off. The children went out to explore and observe on our school field, the playgrounds and the Sensory Garden. They were encouraged to collect minibeasts in their collection pots to look at more closely and then return them carefully to their natural habitat.
‘I really enjoyed it! I found a millipede and I had never seen one before.’ – Ebu
‘I didn’t know that ladybirds could be black with red spots but I found one.’ – Joanna
‘I liked being able to look closely at things with the magnifying glass.’ - Hollie
Sunflowers
We have been planting sunflower seeds in Year 1. We are finding out what plants need to grow and flourish. The children have each planted their own seed and we are making sure we look after them by watering them every day. We have been keeping a sunflower diary to record how the sunflower is growing.
Mad Science
To celebrate Science Week, the whole school took part in Mad Science workshops.
First, we were introduced to two scientists called Hydraulic Hazel and Chemical Charlie who showed us lots of interesting experiments in an assembly.
First, we were introduced to two scientists called Hydraulic Hazel and Chemical Charlie who showed us lots of interesting experiments in an assembly.
T'hen we were very lucky to have a special lesson based on our science topic – ‘Materials’. We were shown lots of different things and even made slime!'
'When we mixed it, we made an irreversible change because it can’t go back.’ - Esther
‘I didn’t expect it to turn into slime when we were adding the things and stirring it!’ - Laura
Reversible and Irreversible Changes
During our science topic ‘Materials’, the children in Year 1 have been focusing on reversible and irreversible changes.
The children have been able to look closely at how we can change and manipulate materials through cooking, mixing and melting. We found out that some of these changes cannot be reversed and we cannot return to the original!
As part of Science Week, we completed a range of different activities and decided whether these were reversible or irreversible.
The children have been able to look closely at how we can change and manipulate materials through cooking, mixing and melting. We found out that some of these changes cannot be reversed and we cannot return to the original!
As part of Science Week, we completed a range of different activities and decided whether these were reversible or irreversible.
‘We cooked a pasta bake and the pasta changed from hard to soft.’ – Hannah
‘It was really fun mixing all the things together and ending up with goo!’ – David
‘We mixed different ingredients in a bowl to make shortbread biscuits. Once they were mixed and cooked, we couldn’t get back to the beginning. It was irreversible.’ - Ebu
Investigating the Properties of Materials
As part of our science topic ‘Materials’, the children in Year 1 have been performing a range of tests to investigate properties.
We have used lots of scientific language such as float, sink, waterproof and even prediction. Our tests have included floating and sinking, magnetic or non-magnetic, and waterproof or not.
Here we are testing out materials to see which one would be best for an umbrella!
We have used lots of scientific language such as float, sink, waterproof and even prediction. Our tests have included floating and sinking, magnetic or non-magnetic, and waterproof or not.
Here we are testing out materials to see which one would be best for an umbrella!
Animal Visit
On Thursday March 9th, we were joined in Year 1 by a very special visitor - Neville, the Pygmy Hedgehog! His owner, Katy, brought him in to visit and told us all about his diet, his activity and sleeping patterns and about how to take care of him. All the children got a chance to touch him if they chose to and watched him play on the carpet with his toys.
Fruit Salad
As part of our ‘Animals and Humans’ topic, Year 1 has been looking at how to stay healthy. We discussed and sorted which foods were healthy and which were not so healthy. Then we designed a fruit salad to make and eat. As part of this, we learnt how to hold a knife correctly to cut, including the bridge and claw hold.
‘I loved making the fruit salad! It was really fun.’ – Simone
‘The fruit salad was really yummy and healthy.’ - Esther
The Chicks
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The children had the most amazing two weeks when the chicken eggs were delivered to school on Monday October 31st.
We watched them hatch out of their eggs in the incubator and then we transferred them to the Brooding Box as they grew. The children learned how to hold them correctly and cleaned and fed them daily. They wrote diaries to document the daily changes. The chicks were collected after 2 weeks and taken to a local organic farm to live out their days. |
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Senses
On Wednesday 28th October, Year 1 learnt about their senses as part of our science topic ‘Animals and Humans’. The children explored their senses by completing different activities for each. They had to listen very carefully to the given sound to play sound bingo, which explored the sense of hearing. They had to close their eyes and smell the different smell jars, taste different fruits and put their hand into the feely bag. Everyone was really brave to try this without the sense of sight and it allowed children to really explore and describe the different feelings, smells and tastes. Lastly, the children had to play eye-spy activities, looking very carefully at a busy picture to identify different objects.
‘The lemon tasted very sour.’ - Isabella
‘There were lots of different smells. I think one was coffee.’ - Shaniya
‘I was able to find lots of things in the eye-spy.’ - Nobel
Signs of Autumn
As part of our science curriculum, Year 1 must learn about the different seasons throughout the year. On Tuesday 4th October, Year 1 took a walk around the school grounds looking for different signs of autumn. The children collected a range of different things, such as conkers and pinecones, and we talked about whether we find these during the other seasons.
‘The pinecones are bumpy.’ - Makayla
‘The leaves have fallen from the trees.’ - Immanuel
‘I found lots of conkers!.’- Alivia
Our Body Parts and Their Purpose
On Thursday 15th September Year 1 began our Science topic ‘Animals and Humans.’ During the lesson we focused on our body parts and their purpose. We used sticky labels to physically label our body parts and tried to name as many as we could. We were all brilliant at naming different parts and could even name some parts that our in our bodies!
