Camtastic Cams!

After our research last week, we've been trialling different cam mechanisms to see how they work. We decided to make some prototypes to see how the shape of the cam affects how the follower moves. It was trickier than we thought! Sometimes we needed to refine out designs to make sure the cam moved smoothly against the follower. We found out that some shapes moved better either clockwise or anticlockwise. We also discovered that smoother corners helped the cam to move more easily and prevented the follower from jamming. Have a look at the cam shapes below. What movements do you think they create?

   

      

   

   

   

Over the coming days, we will use our ideas to create our own moving machines.

Funky Beats!

We've been working with Mrs Watling to create our own machine music! Our inspiration came from a short video called the Music Machine. 

We used this idea to make a start on our own compositions. By using GarageBand on the iPads, we created rhythms to form the basis of our repeated patterns. Over the coming days, we 'll be adding more instruments in different layers. Keep an eye out for our finished pieces in a few weeks time!

Circuits

Machines often need lots of electricity to work. In our science sessions, we've been investigating how circuits work. To begin with, we used the equipment to create different circuits to see what happens and to see what worked and what didn't. We realised that there were a lot of things to consider to ensure the circuit worked correctly.

A couple of boys were a bit puzzled why their circuit didn't work. It was a complete circuit and they knew the bulbs and batteries worked. However, the bulbs didn't light!

With one change, the bulbs lit up. Can you work out how they did it? What was the problem? Why did it stop the bulbs from lighting up?

We also found out how to make a buzzer louder. By adding more batteries, the sound was more powerful. Why do you think this is?

Why not try the circuit activity below and add what you've found out in the comments box?

Exploring Electricity!

As our topic this term is Cracking Contraptions, we are exploring electricity in science. This week, we have been investigating electrical circuits. We had different challenges to solve by creating electrical circuits.

What would happen to the original bulb if we added another bulb to this simple circuit? Why?

It looks like this circuit  has four batteries attached to the bulb - what might happen to the bulb? Why?

 

SEARCH Museum

We had a great day in year one today! We visited the Search Museum in Gosport and took part in a workshop all about old and new toys.

The workshop started off with a talk about toys and how they have changed
over the years. The children also looked at different photographs of toys and
people playing with them. They then created a timeline from a really long time ago to now.

Bagatelle

Wooden hoops.

The children had the opportunity to play with various old toys including, bagatelle, space hoppers, dress up dolls and shove half penny.















The children had the chance to dress up as people from the past.

Other activities the children took part in included sorting old and new toys, matching toys to the people who would of played with them, drawing old toys and making their very own cup and ball!

An old till.

Wooden puzzle.

Jack in the box.

Creating a toy timeline.

Number Formation Rhymes!!!

Happy New Year from all the Early Years Team!!!

We have been learning some rhymes at school to help us with writing our numbers.
We thought it might be helpful for you to have them as well.

The children are beginning to use them independently.

Here they are:

Around and around we go.

That’s how we make a zero.

 

Top to bottom then it’s done.

This is the way we make a one.

Around and back on a railway track.
Two! Two! Two!

 

Around a tree and around a tree.
That’s the way we make a three.

 

Down and across and then one more.
That’s the way we make a four.

 

Hat on top take a dive.
That’s the way we make a five.

 

Stir it around and give it a mix.
That’s the way we make a six.

 

Across, then down so easy its heaven.
That’s the way we make a seven.

 
Make an ‘s’ then close the gate.
That’s the way we make an eight.

 

Make a loop and then a line.
That’s the way we a make a nine.

 

 

Moving Mechanisms

We've been looking at different mechanisms and analysing how they work in preparation for designing our own moving machines.

Have a look at the different mechanisms below. Which is your best? How does it work?

Year 3 Search trip

Year 3 Visited The Search Museum in Gosport to find out more about dinosaurs and fossils. We became scientists for the morning, wearing lab coats.

We had to match the labels to the fossils.

We then sketched the fossils.

These are some of the fossils we sketched.

We also identified myths people believed about monsters and dinosaurs.

 

Studying a elephant bone discovered in the Gosport area that dates back 100,000 years.

 

 

 

We even discovered a woolly mammoth!