Circuits need power sources such as batteries. Wires are connected to both the positive and negative ends of the battery (or cell). Circuits contain other electrical components such as bulbs and motors, which allow the electricity to pass through them. Electricity will only flow and travel around a circuit that is complete. They cannot have any gaps or else the electricity cannot pass through and there must be no short circuits. 

The basic parts of a circuit include: the battery, the wire(s), the bulb(s), buzzer(s), motor(s) and switches (on and off). When the switch is open, there is a gap in the circuit. This means that the switch is off, and that electricity cannot pass around the circuit. When the switch is closed, the electricity can travel around the circuit as the switch is on. If you add more batteries to a circuit, this will increase the power source (electrical energy) and will make the bulb a lot brighter. The more bulbs you add to a simple circuit, the less the electrical energy, which will make the bulbs a lot dimmer. Motors rotate when electrical energy is flowing around the circuit. Common electrical appliances include: refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, ovens, hairdryers, toasters, vacuum cleaners etc. 

Take a look at some of our wonderful robins explaining their circuits.

In Science we asked,

Do you know how an electrical circuit works?
In what ways can electricity be generated?
What are renewable ways of creating electricity?
Can you put a simple circuit together?
What are electrons?

We then explored different simple circuits.

Did you know electric circuits need a power source to work?

They use batteries with wires connected to both the positive and negative terminals. A battery is needed because it gives the force that makes the electrons move. When these electrons reach the light bulb, they give it the necessary power to work. A basic circuit will have a battery (a cell), a lamp and a switch. For the electric current to pass, these components must be connected to the metal connecting wires. When the switch is closed (on), the current can pass through and the lightbulb is switched on. When the switch is open (off), the current can no longer pass through the components successfully and thus the light remains switched off. This is because, there is no continuous path for the current to follow. There is a gap which means that the electricity cannot flow though.  

We have started our new topic on Electricity in Science.

We discussed the importance of being safe when working with electricity.

don’t plug many things into one outlet or extension cord, make sure all electrical cords are hidden away, neat and tidy, don’t yank an electrical cord from the wall, put electrical devices out of reach.

As part of the lesson Robins created their own Electrical Safety posters.

Did you know? Whilst electricity provides energy and energy is important because there is no life without energy, there are many dangers associated with it. Humans are really good conductors of electricity. Our bodies are made up of 70% water and electricity moves very quickly through water. This means that electricity can flow very easily through our bodies. This isn’t too good. When we receive an electric shock, our muscles tighten up, our lungs constrict, our heartbeat is interrupted, our blood vessels tighten, and we feel an overwhelming sense of burning. Have you ever had an electric shock? They aren’t the best. Electricity tries to find the quickest way to the ground which makes accidents a lot more probable.

P.S Robins really are super scientists! Isla over the holidays created her own multi-coloured soft balls!

Sounds travel through some materials more easily than others. Softer materials absorb sounds better than hard materials, which reflect sound, often producing echoes.
Sound insulation depends on a variety of factors, which include the type of material used, and the volume of the sound involved. In the most common situations, the sound is travelling in the air and, when it comes up against the insulating material, some of the sound is reflected back into the air. As a result, the sound which enters the material is reduced and so has a lower volume. As it travels through the new material it is further reduced, especially if it is a soft, spongy material, which disrupts the sound waves so they become less regular.

Today Robins conducted a fair test, comparing how varied materials can insulate sound.

This week’s science lesson we have been understanding what happens to sound as it travels, describing how sounds change as they pass through different mediums (solids, liquids and gases) and test how sound travels through different materials.

Fun facts

Did you know that sound is a vibration that travels through different materials?

Sound is made when an object vibrates. When an object vibrates, the air around it begins to vibrate, and these vibrations enter your ear as sound.

These vibrations create sound waves that then travel through solids, liquids and gases but not a vacuum, otherwise known as a completely empty space.

Sound travels four times faster in water than it does in air. The denser the medium is, the faster sound can travel through it. It travels at around 1,230 kilometres per hour.  

Today Robins have been investigating pitch.

The pitch of a sound is how high or low the sound is. A high sound has a high pitch and a low sound has a low pitch.

Don’t forget to log onto Developing Experts to review your learning!

Today, Robins conducted a fair test to compare how volume is affected by using different methods of hearing.

They then explored if sound appears quieter if they are further away from their partner.

Well done Robins and all of us were able to explain the science behind it!

Don’t forget to log onto Developing Experts to review your knowledge and rocket words!

Robins have been learning all about nutrition.  As humans, we require minerals and vitamins so that our bodies work properly.
They are important because they boost the immune system, aid in growth and development and assist in organ and cell function. Minerals and vitamins come from the food that we eat.

Today, Robins were Pharmacists and provided advice on how to improve a patients health.

Don’t forget you can log into wonde to access Developing Experts and review the learning. If you have lost your access code, don’t forget to ask Mr Lo.

At the beginning of today’s science lesson we reviewed the digestive system. Isla was brilliant and brought in a model of the human body.

We also watched a video to recap the digestive system.

A food pyramid is essentially a guide that allows us to see what we should be eating everyday in order to be healthy. The food in a food pyramid is organised into 6 different groups. The different groups include:

1. Bread, cereal, rice and pasta

2. Vegetables

3. Fruit

4. Milk, yoghurt and cheese

5. Meat, poultry, fish, beans and nuts

6. Fats and oils

These different groups are also split into different levels of the food pyramid based on the number of servings that we should be having of each constituent a day. For example, the lower parts of the pyramid (triangle) are a lot larger the parts at the top. This equates to larger portions.

Group 1 is usually at the bottom of the pyramid. This means that the highest daily serving should be of rice, bread or other grains. It is estimated around 5 to 11 servings of this group.

Sitting above this base are both fruit and vegetables. We are recommended to have around 3 to 5 servings a day of each.

One level up we find the dairy and the meat group. Suggested servings here are around 2 to 3 per day. Beans and nuts can also be found here as they too are proteins and not everyone eats meat. The last level is for fats, oils and sugars. We should be having the least amount of servings daily from this group. This is usually junk food which has very little nutritional value.

In Science, Robins have been investigating all about the digestive system.

The first activity was to discuss where the organs should be. There were some interesting results!

Here is a recap of where they should be.

They then had a go at being scientists presenting a TV program about the digestive system.

Can you remember all the vocabulary?

Click here to read more about the digestive system. (Don’t forget you can add this as part of your reading in your reading record! ) 

P.S Well done to Shriya for her extra research in the topic. It’s great to hear you share the knowledge.

In Science we have been learning all about teeth.

We learnt about the different types of teeth in a human’s mouth and what they are used for.   Can you remember what are your incisors, canines and molars?

Click here to review the knowledge! 

Next we discussed what would happen if we didn’t brush our teeth. We also setup a science experiment to test how different liquids can stain / damage our teeth. We have used: fizzy drinks salt water,milk,  tap water and vinegar

Of course.. we couldn’t really use our own teeth as we want to protect them so we’ve used an egg as a substitute. Did you know that the shell of an egg is made of a similar substance to tooth enamel!?

We will observe our teeth (eggs) every day and see what happens!

By the way,

Did you know?

• The average person spends 38.5 total days brushing their teeth over a lifetime.
• People who drink 3 or more glasses of fizzy pop each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others. Put down the pop and sports drinks and pick up some nice fresh water instead.
• If you’re right handed, you will chew your food on your right side. If you’re left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
• The most valuable tooth belonged to Sir Isaac Newton. In 1816 one of his teeth was sold in London for $3,633, or in today’s terms $35,700. The tooth was set in a ring! (source: Guinness World Records 2002).Click here to read more about teeth!