Students in Stage 1 and Early Stage 1 have been researching bear facts, as a result of reading variations on the fairy tale, “Goldilocks and the three bears”.
Fun facts about bears
Grizzly bears catching salmon – Nature’s great events – BBC
Black bear and cubs in hibernation – BBC wildlife
Polar bear mom and cubs
For the Stage 3 science & technology unit, “Light me up”, here are some more Youtube clips that may prove useful.
What color is a mirror?
3 easy kids’ science experiments with magnifying glass
The science of rainbows
How a prism works to make rainbow colors
Special LED lights in infrared and ultraviolet spectrum
Rainbow walking water – easy kids science experiment
Stage 2 students are investigating the Australian farming industry in HSIE:
Farming for the future
Australia’s biodiversity: farming, pastoralism and forestry
Stage 2 students continue their investigation into the history of transport.
Sydney Trains Vlogs special: Red Set F1 test run
Japanese high speed bullet train
Futuristic straddling bus allows cars running underneath
Future transportation technology / China straddling bus HD
In the final days before Sydney’s Monorail ceased on 30th June 2013, Powerhouse Museum staff filmed the ride from the driver’s cab. The Powerhouse has acquired this cab and a carriage for its collection:
Driving Sydney’s Monorail
J.A.Y. Walker Deceased (1950). [Re-released for Walk to Work Day, 2012.]
Students in Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 have been studying the Aboriginal Dreaming Story of “How the birds got their colours”. This week, they are investigating birds. Our playground is currently well-populated with large crows (or ravens?) and the students have been enjoying (or being blamed for) their hilarious antics: tossing scraps out of the bins, stealing shiny rocks from a memorial garden, and frog-marching pigeons out of the playground.
I found some fascinating Youtube videos that demonstrate the intelligence of crows, as they complete an exercise involving a three-step plan, and then an eight-step plan.
Crow intelligence – multi-step tool action test
Are crows the ultimate problem solvers? – Inside the animal mind – BBC
Smart crow uses cars to crack nuts in Akita, Japan near Senshu Park
Remember Aesop’s fable of “The crow and the pitcher”?
Causal understanding of water displacement by a crow
Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 students are learning about Aboriginal Dreaming stories.
The Rainbow Serpent
The Rainbow Serpent (by Dick Roughsey)
Batik painting, inspired by Dick Roughsey’s Dreamtime picture book, The Rainbow Serpent
Rainbow Lorikeets wild and free in their native Australia
Stage 3 students continue their investigations into the states of matter.
Mystery golf ball in a block of wood (WoodLogger.com)
Making plastic money…
Several classes are researching the 50 years of decimal currency in Australia. Here are some useful Youtube clips.
Dollar Bill and Australians keep the wheels of industry turning
Decimal currency, 14 February 1966 – Television advertisements
New decimal coin designs
50 years of decimal currency – Studio 10 segment
Decimal currency – Behind the News
Royal Australian Mint Tour – Behind the News
More information is available HERE, the website of the Royal Australian Mint.
Class 4-6S is back from an excursion to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Here are some video clips we used to sum up our term’s learning about space.
Ride the Vomit Comet: try life in zero gravity
Powerhouse Museum Mars Yard
NASA TV is HERE, with weekly updates!
The science of snowflakes
How do snowflakes form?
Snowflakes photographed by new high-speed camera