Inquiry Learning

During weeks 5 and 6 students have grappled with new scientific concepts and engaged in practical mathematical experiences. In our Forces and Motion unit of work we conducted several investigations on the concepts of friction and gravity. Students found the notion of friction as an opposing force to a push or pull to be a challenging one. They showed a greater understanding of gravity and what happens when objects are dropped and rolled from various heights. They were asked to make predictions, record results and write a conclusion. Find out from your children what they learnt about objects that were the same size but had different weights. Which object (balls, lids) landed on the ground first? What happened when you dropped a marble from 3 different heights into a container of flour? What happens to a ball rolling down a ramp when the angle (slope) is increased? Why doesn't water spill out of holes in a cup when you drop it into a bucket of water (but is does when you hold it still)? We also had a group of Japanese University Students visit our classroom today. These students are training to be teachers in Japan and this was part of their course studies to visit schools in other countries.