Wicor's World: Chemistry and reading week 6NB

Well what a 3 weeks that has been! First our SATS, and then headlong into chemistry and reading week. We have had a fantastic time and enjoyed some inspiring scientific and reading/writing workshops. First up was the Bubble Pop, where we enjoyed watching bubbles filled with smoke, bubbles on top of heads, and people put into bubbles.

Later on in the second week we hosted Stewart Ross who is a writer of many children's books. We had prepared with him a writing workshop where by the end of the day the children had each drafted a chapter of our new book which, when we get the polished versions to him, he will publish on line. How exciting is that! We now have to polish and polish that work after half term. The book and chapters will be about WW2 from The Phoney War, Total War, Technology of War, The Blitz and The Bombing of Portsmouth. Stewart showed the children how to plan their writing properly, and craft their sentences. He also reiterated how important it is to learn to spell and to use their grammar correctly!

The University of Southampton chemistry department came in the middle here and gave a fabulous assembly using gas and explosions, dry ice and flying pigs (stunt pig only you will be relieved to hear). They linked all of these demonstrations with the science around us and particularly with climate change, showing the children how just a little acid is changing the temperature of the seas around us to the detriment of all the wildlife in it. They finished showing what happens when airships (balloons filled with hydrogen) come into contact with a flame. Boom!

At the end of the second week Kev McNamara came and worked with us again, this time focusing on explosions. We all learnt about chemical reactions and watched as he made a rocket fly. We revised our knowledge of what happens when gases mix and our understanding of sublimation.

There were two dress up days, one where we came dressed as a scientist and a second where we were dressed as our element. Everyone had been given an element badge at the beginning of the fortnight and these were much loved by everyone - including the staff.

Finally, came the chemistry fayre where everyone showcased their learning. For Y6 it was the flying cups using dry ice mixed with water which released carbon dioxide and fairly fired the cups into orbit. We also challenged people to balance a tin can on its edge using only a little water!