Year 3/4 and 4 Food Chains - Homework and Websites

Hi... here are some websites that will help with your science homework this week.  If you have any questions, go to our http://www.classroomofstars.com/ website and use the contact page to send them in.

Have fun!

Learn more about food chains:
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/fooodchains.htm


The BBC Habitat - www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/habitats.shtml
You can print out the quiz from the bbc habitat site and turn this in as well!




Cheers,
Mrs. T

Grand Opening for our Year 3/4 and 4 Bicester Zoo starts tomorrow!

Your model habitats are assembled and we have considered what resources we need to build a zoo here in Bicester.  This week we will learn about categorizing our creatures and provide school tours for our zoo!

Things to consider: 
Can you think of ways that certain animals are similar or different? 
Going back to MRGRENS:  How are similar creatures MRGRENS alike or different?

Remember, you also have your school trip to the Rainforest on Friday.  When you are there, consider how the builders designed the eco-home to contain and support the plants and animals far away from their natural habitat.

Cheers,
Mrs. T

Science Challenge....all years!

Explore the nooks around your home.  What type of creatures (including insects) and plants (even molds) can you find?

Why do you think these 'living organisms' have decided to live with you?

Take a walk around the outside of your home.  What creatures and plants do you find there?  Are they different or similar to the ones you have in-side?

Why do you think these 'living organisms' have decide to live outside?

Do you think you could live outside your home?  Why or why not?

Remember: You can e-mail through our contact web-page.  Challenge participants are recorded and are entered for fun awards or prizes!

Cheers,
Mrs. T

Half Term Fun - Science and Astronaut Club

Over the next 5 days, I'll be posting some challenges and questions for Year 3, 3/4 and 4 science groups, Year 1 Wacky Science and our Astronaut Club. Our learning platform might take a little more time for me to get organized, so I'll also keep our blog up until we have the LP up and running.

Remember, you can e-mail me through the web page. I'll post your comments and questions on our blog.

Hope you had a fun weekend...check back Monday.

Cheers,
Mrs. T

Year 3/4 & 4 Science - Websites for Friction & Resistance

Lick on any site to link over...This will be updated through the term

From the Hamilton Trust Suggested Websites
Magnetics
http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/parkworldplot/flash/concepts/magneticforces.htm

Friction and Forces
An overview: http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/discovermore/forcesandmotion.htm
From class:  http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/parkworldplot/flash/concepts/friction.htm
An on-line forcemeter to try out at home!  http://www.racemath.info/forcesandpressure/ks2_force.htm


Cheers,
Mrs. T

Science - Year 3/4 & 4 Friction and Resistance Introduction

The sleighs are being built and you can feel the 'friction' building!  This term we are researching Friction and Resistance...so we'll either get stuck or find the way forward slow going.  Either way...looks to be fun and, of course, very hands on.

We explored the forces involved in magnets and have been introduced to a 'Forcemeter'
.
Our vocabulary for the term is:
force    friction     air resistance         water resistance       forcemeter(why not metre Mrs. T wants to know?)
Newtons        gravity        surface area          mass        prediction     hypothesis        conclusion

Please make sure next week!  You will need to bring in a full change of clothes for our swimming lesson!  Yes...your swimming kit and another change of clothes besides your school uniform.  Why?  Hmm...that would spoil the fun and I want to 'resist' that!


Cheers,
Mrs. T

Year 3/4 is in a STATE! Changing States that is. Monday 28.9.09

Solid to Liquid to Gas...Changing States

Volcano pic by catbutler

Year 3/4 is  studying solids and liquids.  It's probably natural that we add in a little gas...nothing too smelly of course.  Below reminds us a little of our day, experiments and where to find the websites we explored in class and have listed for homework.  Enjoy!

Today in class we looked at magma and lava and considered how, when cooled, the quickly flowing liquid returns to becoming a hard, unbend-able rock! We then switched over to the cool antarctic and could almost feel our own body slowly stiffen from cold as we viewed the coldest and driest region on Earth.  All materials on Earth can exist in either a liquid or solid state depending on their 'melting points'. 

Magma rock will melt at 1500° C

Water will melt at a much cooler 1°C

We then experimented with how solids of different sizes would 'flow' through our fingers - viscosity.  I hope you share with your families what you have learned.  Here's a question to ask them.. Cars need a liquid of a certain viscosity. What is it?

*****Homework*****

For homework, visit the BBC KS2 Bitesize Solids and Liquids website, try out the "Try This" Melting and Freezing Points and then have a go at the quiz.  Bring in a copy of your quiz effort to share!  If you can't get on the web at home, let me know at school.

 

BBC KS2 Solids and Liquids Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/materials/solids_liquids/play.shtml

The BBC quiz: http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/schools/ks2bitesize/science/quizengine?quiz=solidsandliquids&templateStyle=science

and check out the Celts in the Iron Ages: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/activities/torc.shtml
  

For a more in depth look into the Changing states, explore these sites:

What is a solid, liquid and gas? Chem4Kids can clear it up!

 The States of Water

Volcanoes from The National Geographic
The Antarctic found on the NG environment page.
Prehistoric Iron Smelting
King Midas Activity
How solids travel at different speeds through different liquids- viscosity