Class 3E have been researching solids, liquids and gases as part of our science learning for the summer term. This work has involved looking at the properties and being able to identify some of the materials that make up either a solid, liquid or gas.
Our work has included a practical scientific investigation. Each science group in Class 3E was presented with a tray containing a number of objects. These included Lego, paperclips, wooden letters and play dough. We filled a beaker with water and were then set the challenge to investigate what happens when each solid is placed in the liquid.
We found that the paperclips sunk, whilst the Lego and the wooden letters were able to float. The play dough also sunk, but we observed that this started to slowly dissolve and change into a different state.
Class 3E then had a class discussion to share their findings. We were keen to find out if wood and play dough could both still be thought of as belonging to the same solid group if one was able to dissolve whilst the other maintained its form.
Our next level of investigation was to mix two liquids together. We added some olive oil into one beaker of water and some washing up liquid into another. Class 3E saw how the olive oil floated on top of the water whilst the washing up liquid sank to the bottom. We were able to conclude that the olive oil is lighter than water whilst the washing up liquid is heavier.
Finally we tried to mix the two liquids into the water. The olive oil didn’t dissolve, whereas the washing up liquid did.
Our overall conclusions noted that solids retain a fixed shape, as there is little space between the particles. Liquids have more space between the particles. They can move more easily.