Investigating bridges

We read a really interesting book this morning.

It is called "The Three Billy Goat's Gruff".

In this story the goats have to cross a bridge to get to the really delicious grass.

We started talking all about bridges....what are they made from, why are they used, what shapes are in bridges, how can bridges be made really strong.

We did an experiment to see what kind of paper bridge is strongest.

 We tried just one sheet of paper.  It could hold only 2 or 3 bears.

 The sheet of paper was much stronger when we folded the sides.  This bridge could hold 6 bears.

 The bridge with an arch was a little stronger again and held 7 bears.

 The best bridge was one which had been folded like a fan.

 These are the bridges in order from the worst bridge to the best bridge.

We read a wonderful book about the different kinds of bridges: girder bridges, cantilever bridges, bridges with arches, suspension bridges and bridges that can rise to let boats pass underneath.

 We went for a walk around our school to find a bridge.

We found a great arched railway bridge on the way to Ballyloughane beach.

We looked at the arched railway bridge and we could see semicircular arches and signs that were rectangular, circular, rectangular and triangular.

 We particularly enjoyed standing in the tunnel made by the arched bridge listening the echoes we made with our voices.
We can't wait to begin designing our own bridges next week.

Advent wreaths

Advent is a time of preparation.

We are getting ready for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Advent starts on Sunday.  We made Advent wreaths today.  We used paper plates and crepe paper.  They look nice now but will look even nicer when they are finished.

Making gloop

We are investigating materials.

Today we were talking about solids and liquids.

We know that solids are usually hard but liquids are easy to pour.

Water is a liquid and cornflour is a solid.

What happens when you put some water into cornflour?

It mixes like custard but is neither a proper solid nor a proper liquid.

It looks like a liquid and it spilled like a puddle onto the floor

BUT

teacher could pick the puddle up like a solid!!!

When you poke the liquid it feels hard like a solid but when you just leave your finger in it your finger sinks through it like a liquid.

If you had a big enough bath you could even run across it!!!

Have a look:

Red cabbage, acids and caring for our teeth

We all like having lovely clean shiny teeth.

We were talking today about how acids can be bad for your teeth. 

But....how can we tell which things are acids or not.

Teacher had some cabbage with her today.  It looks purple but it is called red cabbage.

When you put this in hot water the water turns blue.  It is a pH indicator.

Now all we had to do was add things to find out whether they are acids or not.

We found that lemon, vinegar, orange juice and Sprite are all acids and turn the cabbage water pink.

Bread soda is not (it is an alkali or base) and turns the cabbage water light blue.

Now we know which drinks are acids and we will wash our teeth well after drinking acids in foods.

Here's a great song about brushing your teeth:

Chinese Dragons

Look at the cool dragons we made in art with 2 paper plates and some paint.

We will finish them tomorrow.

 We also heard a Chinese song.

We love learning about China.