This week, in Year 4, they had an explorer day where they enjoyed learning more about Christopher Columbus and his fleet of ships. Later, they took part in some STEM activities where they learnt about "upthrust" and resistance. The children designed and made a boat out of plasticine, exploring how the shape and surface area of the boat made a difference to whether it would sink or float. Then they used paperclips as passengers and observed with excitement how many paperclips they could put inside their boat without it sinking.
Later they looked at Ice Break boats in the Antarctic and investigated the shape of the hull and how its shape affects its ability to cut a path through the ice.
This week they also created a battery with lemons, potatoes and pineapples. They even managed to light a small LED light.