Inspired by the Beijing Water Cube! Maths and Technology join forces in this Storm of Ideas!

One of the sports stadiums we looked at was the Water Cube in Beijing which was built for the Beijing Olympics Aquatics. We talked about why the Architect chose to design the building like this. What does it remind you of? Water, molecules, ice, bubbles, floating - use your imagination!


So we set about making our own mini stadium using paper, card, sellotape and a secret material to wrap it all up in!

The shape of our stadium was begun with a hexagonal base. Then we had to roll paper to make cylinders. Next we chose the triangular frame shape to hold our wall up as we noticed the beams in our classroom were triangles so we decided they must be the strongest shape.

So here is the frame work all sturdy and strong!

where do puddles go?

Wonderings about where do puddles go?

Problem solving in Measurement

Today we had a problem to solve using our knowledge about measuring length. Mrs Trembath gave us only a little bit of help because she wanted to see what we could do by ourselves! 

The problem:

What does a metre look like? In everyday life we do not always have a metre ruler handy so we use a smaller ruler 30cm long and add measurements together. I wonder who can do that?

Take an A4 piece of paper and cut it into strips. Make a strip that you estimate to be a metre long by taping it together. How are you going to check it is a metre long?

Nathan and Carter worked very carefully to check their metre.

Not only did the children have to use measuring skills but the ability to estimate and add in tens. Many wrote or drew their workings and strategies down too. Some children were surprised by how long or short a metre was. Great mathmatical thinking today everyone!

Perhaps you can use rulers or measuring tapes at home to measure and record your results. Think about how many centimetres are in a metre! How do you write metre and centimetre?

An afternoon using our technology...

The results of our scientific research into liquids floating on liquids

Is it the art of science or the science of art?

The art of science or the science of art?

We wonder if other liquids can float on water? Can air float on water?

We made a wonderful concoction of water, dye, washing up liquid and cooking oil! We mixed it up and made it bubble as we swished it around with a paint brush! Some brave people blew bubbles with straws. 

We watched to see what would happen. We made our own observations about what floated on the top, what sunk and what mixed and dissolved in the water. Then we carefully lay paper across the top to make a print of the floating ingredients! What do you think was floating on the top? Why? We are going to explore these questions in class. 

Water water everywhere...

Did you know that a person who studies water is called a Hydrologist!

Thank you Mrs Long for being our recorder today as we brainstormed our ideas about water! 

The Water Molecule Cheer: 

Give me an H! 

Give me a 2! 

Give me an O! 

What does that spell?

H2O!

When atoms join together they form molecules. A water molecule is made up of 2 Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom. Atoms are teeny tiny building blocks that you can't see. Water molecules lock into position when they freeze...brrr!