Birch class were busy this term investigating different materials and learning about their properties.

We gathered classroom resources made from different materials and tested them to see if they were magnetic, flexible, electrical conductors or insulators.

Fantastic teamwork was shown by all the groups.

Next, we learnt about how some material are conductors of heat and others are insulators. In Birch class, we love hot chocolate! So, that got us thinking: Which material would be best at keeping hot chocolate warmer for longer?

Here we are testing a range of materials to see which were insulators (good for keeping drinks warm) and which were conductors (not so good). We measured the temperature using a thermometer and tested our materials at intervals over a 10 minute time period.

Which material do you think was the most effective insulator?

Later on in the term, we mixed solids and liquids to make mixtures and solutions. Then we wondered, if we can mix them together can we separate them out again?

We tested different methods of separation such as filtering, sieving and picking by hand to see which was the best for separating our mixtures.