STEM – Class of 2015

P7 investigate decomposition

Energy sources & Sustainability:

Decomposition rates game. P7a & d had a great morning, in the sunshine, classifying waste materials into categories. They then sorted them according to how long they predicted it would take to decompose. They ordered the materials from quickest to slowest decomposition rate. Then they matched the rates of decomposition to each item from a list. To conclude, they discussed and evaluated the findings in their groups and as a class.

Another fantastic investigation boys and girls, well done 🙂

Miss Gavin & MrMcKay

P7a and P7d continue their energy investigation outdoors!

This term, P7 are investigating renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. This week they have been learning how energy can be harnessed by the flow of water over their own homemade water wheels. To follow up their solar power experiment, today they have explored hydropower as a form of renewable energy.

Well done everyone! With a little convincing to keep a positive “I can do” attitude, you got there and really enjoyed seeing the result of this experiment. Keep up the good work.

Miss Gavin & Mr McKay

P7a and P7d experiment outdoors!

Primary 7 have been building on their knowledge of energy sources by observing the effect of the sun’s heat on three different variables.

We recorded the temperature of water in three cups before they were exposed to sunlight. Then we placed one cup on white paper, one cup on black paper and covered one cup with cling film.

We left the cups in direct sunlight for 30 minutes and predicted what effect we thought the sun’s energy would have on each cup of water.

“I thought the water on the black paper would be the hottest because the black attracts the sun.”

“I thought it would be the cling film because it was trapping the heat inside the cup.”

“Just before we recorded the temperature for the second time, I could see condensation forming underneath the cling film lid.”

Well done P7; a fantastic experiment using our STEM skills outdoors today.