The Class 7s have recently started their journey into the world of Chemistry.  As budding young scientists learning to apply the scientific method, the first step is to ask, “What am I actually observing?”  By making careful observations without being supplied all the answers straight away, our little scientists are forced to hypothesise, “How is this happening?” The students’ questions are guided to encourage becoming the self-learners we aspire them to be.

In practice, we begun by looking at the chemical process of fire.  By watching a matchstick burn out, a candle transferring its flame to another, or a bonfire reducing itself to ash, our students recorded these phenomena as if seeing it for the first time.

Progressing through the term our students will experience what happens to a range of elements when consumed with fire, which will transition into their relationship to acid and base materials.

As always, so many of the science lessons are hands on activities, and it has been a pleasure to be part of this exploration as students enthusiastically and responsibly experiment; be it with burning materials for scientific observations, or roasting a sneaky corn-cobb over the bonfire!

Simon Griffiths

Design & Technology Teacher