Switches

In expedition today, we looked at how we use switches every day and the different types of switches. The different types of switches we found out about are push button switch, slide switch, toggle switch, key switches and pull cord switches. We found out that switches open or close a circuit and therefore impacts the flow of electricity. When on, a switch will create a complete circuit. When a switch is off, it ‘breaks’ the circuit and the circuit will no longer work as the flow of electricity has been stopped. We then built our own switches following instructions and then placed it within a electrical circuit to see if it worked.

Conductors and Insulators

We really enjoyed learning about and investigating conductors and insulators. We discussed how to keep our test fair and what variables were keeping the same and changing. We wrote our own methods ensuring we were using time fronted adverbials. In mini-crews we then carried out the investigation to see which materials were conductors (allowed electricity to pass through) and insulators (did not allow electricity to pass through). We then recorded this in a results table and wrote our conclusion.

RE continues in MI

In our RE lesson we firstly recapped our lesson last week on the soul. We explored different icons thinking how they could represent an idea on what makes humans special. Children explained that the brain could represent the soul as it controls peoples thoughts and some could show inner self. We then looked at our learning target which was describing what some people believe about being human through exploring personal responses. We watched a video clip to explore this further. This clip explained what different religions opinions were in response to having a soul. We unpicked these together, stopping the clip in different places. We came to the conclusion that the clip was showing that all people are special and unique.

We then looked a range of different statements that reflected on what some people believe about humans having a soul. Our main activity then allowed us to complete a soul snowflake where children had to think about how strongly they agree and disagree with a variety of statements. Children then joined all their answers together and the inside of their shape showed similarities and differences between their own and othersโ€™ snowflakes. Our debrief allowed us to think about how we can live in harmony when we have different worldviews. This was a great discussion ๐Ÿ™‚

Unpicking questions in MI

After our flash cards and vocabulary check, we started to think more about inference. We started with a picture to activate our minds then we unpicked some of the written comprehension questions we completed on Friday. We really explored the questions thinking about our answers and if we had answered the questions accurately. We worked well in mini crews when unpicking the question and finding evidence in the text we had read.

Testing out the energy ball!

Today we explored the energy ball a little more, continuing our learning from Friday! We acted as conductors of electricity completing a circuit. We then added other objects to the circuit to see if they were conductors or insulators of electricity.

Exploring circuits lessons 2 and 3

Firstly, we recapped our learning about appliances and played a game to say whether they were electrical and if they were mains or battery powered. We then discussed what a circuit was and the different components which we use to construct a series circuit. In mini-crews, we made circuits and then drew them using symbols. We had great fun exploring what the different components did.

Next, we investigated what happened in complete and incomplete circuits. Using an energy stick, we explored what happened when we all were connected and the stick lit up. This was amazing!

Finally, we looked at pictures of circuits and then predicted if they would work. We then built them and tested them.