Early Years joined the rest of the Primary as part of the British Science week and carried out lots of exciting experiments and science-related activities this week. Please do take a look at the website from the UK and if you get time at home, why not try out some of the science related activities yourself?
https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/activity-packs/
In F3, they explored how to make static electricity using balloons, what levitation was and how to make it happen, what makes a balloon act like a rocket when you let it go, how to change the colours of the white flowers, how to make a chemical reaction and small - and sticky - 'explosions' using baking soda, vinegar and coca cola. They started to learn about how to predict what may happen and were surprised at the results.
When carrying out different experiments, it challenges children to thing about why things happen and how things change. In the early years they provide accessible language for the children to understand what is happening at a level that is right for them.
I observed squeals of excitement while some of the children explored nature outside. The found lots of snails which they later took back to the classroom to explore in more detail. They focused on the ‘Understanding the World’ area of learning where they started to show care and concern for living things.
On Thursday and Friday, we worked with the Secondary Science department and Mr Will Murray Smith visited the F1 and F2 classes to share his expertise. Both F3 classes were invited over to the Science labs where they learnt about lots of things including, why thunder occurs.
In the Early Years, Science comes under the area of ‘Understanding the World’ but it can also be found in all the ‘Communication and Language’ aspects of learning. This is because a lot of science involves discussions, questioning, predictions and talk. At BVIS, we encourage children to be curious and inquisitive about places, objects, materials and living things all around them. By encouraging this, we not only develop them into being good global citizens but at the same time we also improve and develop their language across all the areas of learning.
Please do have a look at the pictures and talk to you children about what they have learnt this week. Maybe you could try some of the experiments at home. Here are some YouTube videos and websites that we found useful this week…
How to change the colours of white flowers:
https://www.google.com.vn/search?q=how+to+change+a+white+flowers+colour&oq=how+to+change+a+white+flowers+colour&aqs=chrome..69i57.6814j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1
Static Electricity ideas with JoJo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7soAsGyfWQ
Chemical reactions with vinegar and baking soda:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CYgsqji_0k
Levitating ping pong balls:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCRjPFhlSYk
Websites:
http://www.science-sparks.com/early-years-science-themed-activities/
https://www.parentingscience.com/preschool-science-activities.html
Miss Julie Walton
Head of Early Years
