Monday, May 24, 2010

Wellington science teacher fellows visit Victoria University.




In the Earth Science lab we looked at grains of pollen taken from core samples of sediment/soils drilled from within the earth under microscopes. We learned how scientists can tell by identifying the types of pollen which plants were growing on the Earth millions of years ago. This helps them understand the impact that climate change has had on planet earth.

We made some flubber, which is a mixture of PVA glue and borax(a chemical from the chemist). The PVA is a long chain polymer,which means its molecules can slide over each other and are 'runny'. When you add the borax it stops the molecules sliding and they stick together, making a kind of silly putty, called 'flubber'! It is great to play with and will even bounce!

Last Friday some primary science teachers visited us so we organised time in the chemistry and earth science labs.
In the chemistry lab we experimented with magnets, balance and optical illusions.

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