Year 5 – 14/03/25 | British Science Week

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This week, we celebrated British Science Week, exploring the theme ‘Change and Adapt’ through exciting investigations and practical experiments.

On Monday, we discussed the meanings of ‘change’ and ‘adapt’, brainstorming their links to science before exploring how animals have adapted to survive in their environments.

On Tuesday, we had a fun session with Mr Adu from NBS School, where the children designed mazes and guided ball bearings through them using magnets. Later, we planned an investigation to answer the question: ‘How does sugar content affect how well a biscuit stays intact when dunked?’ We discussed fair testing, ensuring only one variable changed.

On Wednesday, we conducted our experiment and were amazed that the shortbread lasted 30 minutes in hot water without breaking!

On Thursday, we combined our oracy and science skills to debate: ‘Would animals be better off without humans?’ We also welcomed Mr Friedlander from Dame Alice Owen School, who led us in an incredible ‘Fire Snakes’ experiment. By mixing sugar and baking soda and carefully igniting it, we watched as long, black ‘snakes’ grew before our eyes—demonstrating how substances transform with heat and energy!

To end Science Week, we welcomed two guest scientists. Marie, from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, explained how our immune systems adapt to protect us. In the afternoon, Dr Alan, a microscopist from UCL, guided us in investigating microscopic life in the school grounds. We collected samples from different areas, examined them under a microscope, and identified the adaptations that help species survive in their environments.

Your home learning between now and the Way of the Cross Service (Wednesday 2nd April at 6:30pm) is to learn your lines (which were given to you today) and the lyrics to the songs, which can be found here. Continuing with the the spirit of British Science Week, your optional home learning is to try one (or more!) of these fun science investigations at home. Observe what happens, record your findings, and be ready to share them with the class!

1️⃣ Fizzing Balloons (Chemical Change)

How does a chemical reaction create change?

👉 What to do:

  • Pour 125ml vinegar into a plastic bottle.
  • Use a funnel to put 3 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda into a balloon.
  • Carefully stretch the balloon over the bottle’s opening (without tipping the powder in yet!).
  • Lift the balloon so the powder falls into the vinegar.
  • Watch what happens!

🤔 Think about:
What is causing the balloon to inflate? Could you change the experiment (e.g., use warm vinegar or add more bicarbonate of soda) to see what happens?

2️⃣ Dissolving Dilemma (Physical Change)

Does changing the size of sugar affect how quickly it dissolves?

👉 What to do:

  • Get three cups of warm water.
  • In one cup, put granulated sugar, in another put caster sugar, and in the last one, put a sugar cube.
  • Stir each cup for 30 seconds and see which one dissolves fastest!

🤔 Think about:
Why does the size of the sugar affect how quickly it dissolves? Could you try other substances (e.g., salt, flour) to see if they dissolve differently?

3️⃣ Reusable T-Shirt Bag (Adapting Materials)

How can we adapt old materials into something new?

👉 What to do:

  • Take an old T-shirt (with an adult’s permission!) and cut the sleeves off.
  • Cut slits along the bottom and tie them together to create a no-sew bag.
  • Use your new bag instead of a plastic one!

🤔 Think about:
Why is adapting materials into reusable items good for the environment? What else could you repurpose?

4️⃣ Sound Wave Spoons (Adapting Sound)

How does sound change as it travels through different materials?

👉 What to do:

  • Cut a piece of string 1 metre long and tie it to a metal spoon.
  • Wrap the string around your fingers and press them gently against your ears.
  • Ask someone to tap the spoon with a wooden ruler.
  • Try changing the string length or using a different material (e.g., wool, fishing line).

🤔 Think about:
Does the length of the string change the sound? Why do you hear the sound better through the string than through the air?

5️⃣ Melting Race (Changing States)

How do different materials change from solid to liquid?

👉 What to do:

  • Get three small pieces of chocolate, butter, and an ice cube.
  • Put one on a plate at room temperature, one in the fridge, and one in a warm sunny spot (or near a radiator).
  • Check every 5 minutes—which melts first?

🤔 Think about:
Why do some materials melt faster than others? How does this link to real-life adaptation (e.g., why do polar animals have thick fur to keep warm)?

Enjoy your weekend and see you on Monday.

Miss Donatantonio