The Curiosity Lab

My experience of the ‘Properties and their materials’ workshop

Grade 4

By Anais Payen

Curiosity Lab has easily driven my passion and strong love for science forward and I hope that they will come back with another compelling experiment that will blow our minds...again!

Firstly, to make sure we were all safe, we were told to put on some black, rubber gloves and safety goggles that were placed on our trays. There were also 2 beakers, a mini spoon, and a stick to stir and a funnel to sieve. Next to our trays, on our tables, were 2 plastic bowls - one filled with chalk and one filled with glucose. After that, we had to pour chalk into a beaker and glucose into the other. Then, we had to put a little water in each one and stir the solutions. During this, Eugene, the workshop leader, clearly explained the reason why the chalk was more a white colour, whereas the glucose was more clear which was because chalk is insoluble (it doesn't dissolve in water). Next, we had to pour the glucose into the chalk, which apparently, was mistake, (I soon realised this was part of the show).

In order to reverse what we'd done, we were handed a piece of paper to put in our funnel that we were going to put in the empty beaker, and then pour the mixed solution into the funnel which then drained into the beaker back as a clear liquid. Finally we added the solution into a plastic bottle that had green food – dye in and we shook it. Slowly but surely, the color of the water changed from green to brown, to red to orange and then finally yellow. Once at yellow, we gave the bottle a little shake which changed the color to red and then a big shake which changed the color to green. This worked because shaking allows oxygen to permeate the solution and reverse the colors once again. This magical experiment we did was called the 'Traffic Light Experiment.'

Oryx Grade 4

Teacher: Mr. Mounsey

You won’t see this until year’s end. There will have been a few more months of achievements between my writing this and you reading it (time has to be given for publication!). I don’t know exactly what will come in those months, who may join us or who may leave, but I do know that you will embrace each new circumstance with the same excitement and positivity you’ve shown so far and continue to treat each other with the caring, respectful manner I have come to expect and appreciate from you all.

It makes me proud to write about how you have grown and matured this year. It seems like only yesterday that I welcomed you into Grade4 (and some of you into Grade 3!) Whether you were a returning student or new in September or joined us throughout the year, each of you has become a valued member of our class. You have repeatedly demonstrated the 3C’s of NLCS; Care, Courtesy and Consideration. You have shown care to your peers when they have been new, when they have been nervous and when they have been sad. You have shown courtesy in the way you move around the school, hold doors for others and listen to your peers. You have shown consideration when reflecting on your learning, responding to discussions and when making decisions. I hope that you are each proud of the progress you have made and the person you are becoming.

I hope you will all remember the effort you have made and how it has helped you grow this year. You’ve worked hard in lessons, you have supported your House and you have represented the school, on trips, residentials, on stage and in sports. As you move up to Grade 5 you may find that the challenge increases. Just remember that this year you have all developed your growth mindset and shown that we learn from our mistakes. When things get challenging you have repeatedly shown that you can succeed. Take this with you next year and each one after.

Thank you for a fantastic year.