Cross Country

Our school cross country is next Thursday (5th May). Try to go out for a few runs this week. Running for just 10 minutes will make a difference!

Tornado in a Bottle

In class we had a go a creating a tornado in a bottle. You can read the following instructions to find out what you need to do.

Make a Tornado in a Bottle  

Learn how to make a tornado in a bottle with this fun science experiment for kids. Using easy to find items such as dish washing liquid, water, glitter and a bottle you can make your own mini tornado that’s a lot safer than one you might see on the weather channel. Follow the instructions and enjoy the cool water vortex you create!

What you'll need:

• Water
• A clear plastic bottle with a cap (that won't leak)
• Glitter
• Dish washing liquid

Instructions:

1. Fill the plastic bottle with water until it reaches around three quarters full.
2. Add a few drops of dish washing liquid.
3. Sprinkle in a few pinches of glitter (this will make your tornado easier to see).
4. Put the cap on tightly.
5. Turn the bottle upside down and hold it by the neck. Quickly spin the bottle in a circular motion for a few seconds, stop and look inside to see if you can see a mini tornado forming in the water. You might need to try it a few times before you get it working properly.

What's happening?

Spinning the bottle in a circular motion creates a water vortex that looks like a mini tornado. The water is rapidly spinning around the centre of the vortex due to centripetal force (an inward force directing an object or fluid such as water towards the centre of its circular path). Vortexes found in nature include tornadoes, hurricanes and waterspouts (a tornado that forms over water).

After carrying out our investigations we discussed what we might do if we repeated it, to try to get a bigger vortex that could be clearly be seen. Below are some of our ideas:

• use a smaller bottle that would weigh less and be easier to spin
• use less washing up liquid and more glitter to make it easier to see
• use a glass jar with a lid as Room 16 were able to make bigger vortexes

See if you can find out anything else about tornadoes during the school holidays to share with the class in the first week back. 

Oral Language Wednesday...

Tomorrow for Oral Language, Room 15 are sharing a flag from another country.  This may be one from:

• a country that has significance for you
• a country you have travelled to
• a flag that is interesting to look at
• a flag that has an interesting story

See if you can bring a printed picture of the flag and tell us about it!

Buddy writing...

This term some of our children are 'mentoring' others in the class with their writing. This is a great way for children to work together teaching and learning, developing a range of writing skills and getting instant feedback from their peers.  It takes good listening and speaking skills!  Well done Olivia and Jack - we can see great learning and relating to others happening here!

Wizard of Oz work...

This term, we have been doing a lot of work based on the book The Wizard of Oz.  It has been a great book and we have learnt a lot about the special qualities of the main characters.  Check out the work we have been doing based on the book...

In literacy we have been working on presenting information about the Wizard of Oz characters - what they are like both inside and outside, in a visual poster.  We have discussed headings, sub-headings, effective ways to grab the attention of others and using succinct points to summarise.  These posters look great!

In art, we constructed these tin men using tins, tinfoil and a range of things for the faces.  This was a fun afternoon and the results looks fantastic!