FORCES AND MOTION:

Forces, Motion and Simple Machines...

This term in inquiry we are investigating...

Forces and Motion

What makes things go?

The deeper understandings we would like the students to pursue through their inquiry wonderings are that:                             

Forces are all around us and they cause movement in different ways.
Scientists conduct scientific investigations to find things out. (Knowledge/Skill)

Thinking like a scientist can help us explain how forces and motion work.  (Key Competency)

Demonstrate our understanding of forces and motion by applying them to a meaningful context.  (Taking Action)

Students usually begin as a Novice (N), learning about the concepts being explored, as they progress through the learning experiences they become more confident in their learning and transition through being an Apprentice (A), Practitioner (P) and some onto being an Expert (E). All students work through a learning journey that is suitable to them.

The first part of this inquiry unit began with tuning in and finding out, engaging the students, through exposure to a number of Physical World Science concepts.  Students in years 0-4 in both Te Henga and Piha Learning Communities got together twice a week for three weeks to rotate through a variety of science investigations.

They looked at simple machines and the forces behind these machines. Some of the topics covered were: pulleys, levers, gears, simple machines, floatation, magnetism, friction, and gravity.  

As  team we were lucky enough to venture into Mr Wright's shed.  Here, he had a number of pulley systems set up for us to play with.  One system was a single fixed pulley system, this required more force to lift the object.  Another system set up consisted of single fixed pulleys and moveable pulleys, students thought this would be more difficult to use as there were so many pulleys and a lot more rope.  We were wrong!  It was a lot easier.

These investigations with pulleys have furthered our wonderings about pulley systems and how they work.






Through these investigations, some of the essential learning questions we have been focusing on are:

How do things move? (N)

What is the scientific process? (N, A, P, E)

Why do people investigate? (N, A)

What is a force?(N, A)

How do things move? (P, E )

What is a hypothesis and why do we need one? (N, A, P, E)

What questions can I ask to find out more information?(A,P,E)

How can I use thinking tools to organise my ideas? ( (A, P)

What do scientists do to find things out? (N)

We will continue to build on these questions and our wonderings through "Extending"; sorting out our wonderings and going further in our learning journey.

Ask your children their wonderings about the science topics covered so far.  What can they tell you? 

What are they now wanting to find out? How are they going to take their investigation one step 

further into their inquiry learning journey?

MOTAT

Te Henga Team Trip to MOTAT

On Monday 11th May, Te Henga team years 0-6 spent the day together at MOTAT, what great learning experiences we all participated in.

Tram Ride

Tram Ride

Ready to Explore

On monday we went to MOTAT. We went on a truck bus. It was loud and THOMAS and Trent went with me.

AT MOTAT we went on the

earthquake cafe. You shake like crazy. And then  we went in the mirror maze  and then we went on a tram ride.

I enjoyed my day at MOTAT.

Momentum Spinner

Earthquake Cafe

On monday TeHenga went to MOTAT.

When we were on the bus ride me and sharlyn were sitting

together and she brought her nano and we listened to music.

At last we got to MOTAT.

When we got there we had some lunch at the Dome. It felt

like we were in a cave. It was echoey when you talked.

Everyone in my group kept on saying lets go to the mirror

maze so we went. It was very confusing you kept on bumping

into things. There were dead ends.

Next we went on a tram ride. It was fun when your’re inside it

feels like it's slow but it isn't.

It was very fun and interesting i had a fun day.

On Monday all of Te Henga went on an exciting trip to Motat.

On the bus it was so noisy that it sounded like a bunch of meerkats crying or like I was a baby in a baby park!  At least I knew that each second  we were getting closer and the closer we get the quieter everyone will be.  I took a little nap and when I opened my eyes we were there.  Then peace and quiet came.  Someone called Abby was talking about the rules of Motat.  One of them was that we could not run.

A bit later we were all walking in our groups with an adult per group so that not all parents would come.  My Mum came so she led my group  If you want to know why we have adults it is because we will all end up lost and all alone.  First of all we stopped at a playzone.  There were all sorts of fun stuff like there was a shaking cafe.

The next place we went to was the mirror maze I was the first person to get out.  It was very difficult.  I tried to help people out to get out but I could not get their attention.  But I could get my mom's attention.  We went straight away to watch a clip but it was not that exciting.

                     

                                            

I really enjoyed the trip to Motat and I will never forget it.

“Ohhh yay" all the kids yelled as they headed to MOTAT.

When we arrived we went straight to the dome. The dome has circle shaped poles which form a round shape. A tarpaulin leans upon the poles. On the ground inside lay a matted indoor and outdoor carpet. There were table like seats and ottomans.

Next we went to explore the mirror maze. We had to try and find our way out. There were lots of different paths. Many led to dead ends. Only one was right. It was confusing because the mirrors looked similar to the paths. I kept on bumping into the mirrors.

Then we trecked to the ninety degrees below room. It was all about Sir Edmund Hillary. There were jackets, boots, clothes and pick axes that might have been used by Sir Edmund Hillary.

Next, we explored the earthquake cafe. It shook a lot. When you pushed a button it turned on for thirty seconds. Another turned it off.

what fun at the mirror maze!

It was amazing and very educational at MOTAT. 

I had a great day.

made it!

                                                

which way do I go?

On Monday Te Henga went on a trip to MOTAT. And it took us ages to get there.

First we all walked to the dome to hear some rules about MOTAT. One was no running around MOTAT. and we Need to throw our fruit away when we are finished so we don’t bring fruit flies back to Huapai.

Then we went to the activities room. There was an earthquake, spinning machine and a music player. When we were all finished with the activities. We went to the mirror maze. It was so hard. But I know a trick never follow the light.

Next we went on a tram. The tram was so slow that it hardly got to the end of the zoo. But then we got back to MOTAT.  

I enjoyed MOTAT.

  MOTAT Writing

walt: write a recount

Driving in the bus, then suddenly we arrived under the tent and the person told us what to do.

We are in the dome having  morning tea. I found a good place to rest. Next we are on the way to the game room. I’m going in the earthquake cafe 'wooooooooo that was shaky, oh it’s tram time.'

'Hurry hurry we are to be late for the tram.' said "Oh few we are not late for the tram ride." I shouted "it’s coming. Quick get on."  

This was very fun. the conductor had a fake ear it was creepy.

'Oh welcome to the machine' i said to my friends. First i went on slide, then the lift. And then on the seat pull.

It was so so so so fun.

the team went to MOTAT

the bus ride was bumpy my stomach was feeling not well.

but it was fun.

the tram was exciting .

when we got to  the end the tram instructor told us some info 

about the tram

the classroom

We learnt  about pulley and different machine.

when we got the last thing it was to  lift our parent .

I  feel so happy .

And exited .

But we had to go back to school .

motat is an awesome place because it has fun activities.

In the activity room there is a earthquake cafe.

When you push the button you shake like a milkshake.

There is this see through globe with a purple stone in it and lightning comes out of it and you can control it.

I was tired on the bus going home .  

I was sitting next to Riley & Sahil.

gears, gears and more gears

levers

gears

13.5.2015     

WALT: write a recount

On monday Te Henga went on a trip to motat. When Te Henga went on the big bus my Teacher said 'gosh it is noisy in here.' When Te henga got to motat Te Henga went to a meeting place. It is called the dome. It is a big white circle .Where we can eat lunch and morning tea.

Finally, we got to do something. It was the tram ride we learnt somethings from driver like how do they work. They work by electricity. It is pretty amazing. Next we got to do the mirror maze. Me and my friend went through it pretty easy. My other friend was behind me smashing into the walls . It was funny it helped my eye sight lots.

Then it was time to have some lunch I was starving. After room 20 had their lunch room 20 went to welcome to machines. First I saw a slide I walked to the slide and slid down it. I had a good day at Motat because there was lots of fun stuff there about simple machines.

Our Pulley Writing:

We have been learning about pulley systems for inquiry through science.
One of the initial tasks was to write a story from a picture prompt.
Students were given two pictures of children trying to lift a log using a single fixed pulley system and a movable pulley system.  
Here are some of the stories they have written...  We hope you enjoy them.


The 3 kids are pulling as hard as they could.  It must be really heavy.  They must be using all their strength.  They tugged and pulled as hard as they could.

pulleys

three kids are working together to lift the log. They tried to use one pulley but it didn’t work so they used two pulleys to make it easier. They discovered that one boy can lift up the log. “ We've done a good job” they said.

On a bright and sunny day three kids were heaving and pulling on a thick rope.  The three kids Ebeaka, Conner and Rolan were trying with all their might to pull on the rope.  “This is mighty hard” exclaimed Conner, frustrated.

“I agree” said Rolan.

“Why doesn't just one of us try it?” asked Ebeaka. So Ebeaka, Conner and Rolan percevered and in the end it worked.

How do we lift this?    We are not strong enough.  “Wait a minute what if we put more ropes on it and a pulley at the top.”  Said the three kids all together and laughed.  “Look here you two”said the youngest kid.  I can lift the log up!  “The problem is solved.”   they all said together.

It was a sunny day at Rosavelt school.  It was lunch.  I decided to go and find my best friend Layla.  By the way my name is Brittany.  

So anyway I was going to find Layla when Jacob and Conner two boys in my class pulled me over to them.  They said to me “hey Brittany can you help us lift the wood over the monkey bars?”

“sure” I replied.

So we all started to pull and tug on the rope.But it was just not working.

”How about I try to do it by myself” offered Jacob

“sure” said Conner and I.

When Jacob tried to pull it up it worked easily and that is the end of the story.

One sunny morning at school there was a group of kids. They were playing on the playground with the pulley. 

Ethan said to them ‘this is hard’

‘I know’ said jamie .  All tired , she fell over so all of them tried together. But it was still hard. So they put a hook on it and they tried that. It was easier so they kept on playing on it until the bell rang.  

pulley writing

They are using rope on the monkey bars.

I think they are trying to lift a heavy log .

They have just got it of the ground.

I think they are tired and stressed out from lifting it.

I think they  are using a pulley.

I think he's the strength one.

It looks like they got it off the ground.

They are on the playground at school.

I think it is easier for them.

The little boy is using all his muscles and strength. He might be showing off or he might not be.It must be a bit heavy for just 1 boy. Those other 2 kids must be a bit jealous. That kid must be really tired lifting up that heavy looking log up. He is half way there.

Those 3 kids used all their might. They pulled and and tugged. They tried  to do it. They used all their strength. They pulled and pulled. And they are almost at the top.

One sunny morning three young children jogged outside to test out their pulley.

 They had tied some rope around a log and they had flipped the rope over the pole.

They both raped their knuckles around the rope and they pulled and pulled.’’this rope

is very tricky to pull’’ said one.

’’I think it’s the log thats tricky to pull’’ said another.

 But they didn’t give up!!!!

pulley writing.                                                                                              

the girls tried to pull the log up

“ohhhh this is so hard, we can't pull the log up ! “ they said.

When the boy pulled it himself with a pulley he did it!

“that was easy” he said.

“did you know you were using a pulley?

“yes” said the boy.

the pulley story.

There were three kids.They were trying to lift a heavy log with a pulley. First we tried all of us pulling at once. Then we tried only one of us pulling. And that worked. That's how we lifted it!

pulley story

the 3 kids were trying to lift the log but the log was to heavy for them.  but they put 1 more pulley this time time. So 1 kid pulled the rope then he said "it easy now."

the pulley story

there were three of us we were pulling and tugging with all our might but we still couldn't do it. we were trying with all our strength. I tried heaving as hard as I could. but still nothing.

”come on!” I said angrily.

”I wish we could lift it!” said Jakie

”doesn’t everyone” said Troyf angrily!