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Year 5 All Day Science Workshop
Mrs McGivern sent this report:
On Monday, 20 January, almost 50 students from our local Primary Schools came to Invicta to experience a day as a Chemist, as part of the ‘Mad Professor Workshop’.
Students started the day by making their own indicators from red cabbage, then used these to test the pH of various chemicals in the lab. Students also had the opportunity to use a range of other indicators, and compare the differences between them. The ‘Indicator Rainbow’ demonstration was a very popular part of the day – drawing ooohs and aaahhhs from the girls, then giggles as it almost bubbled over the top of the burette at one stage!
After break, students investigated the properties of polymers. They made their own slime according to a practical method, and then changed the recipe to produce a variety of different versions of the polymer. Some were very stiff and difficult to remove from the beakers; some were far too runny to be played with!
The final session involved writing balanced equations, a skill that will be needed all the way up to A Level Chemistry and beyond. Students were supported with this activity, using molecular modelling kits to help visualise the reactions as they were happening. The exploding hydrogen balloon and methane bubble demonstrations were very dramatic, and impressively students were able to successfully balance the resultant practical equations.
Very well done girls – I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for coming!
