Students in 2K have been learning about what happens when materials are combined. 

We mixed cornflour and water and watched as it changed from a liquid to solid. Touching it felt very strange, sometimes it was soft, sometimes it was crumbled and sometimes it was watery. 

When water was added to jelly crystals, the crystals dissolved into the water. Many students tried dissolving sugar and in warm water at home. The next day the liquid had changed into a solid which slipped through our fingers.

Our next experiment involved mixing oil, water and detergent. We were amazed to watch the oil and water separate, even when the detergent was added. It didn’t matter if we shook or stirred the mixture the oil always formed bubbles and rose to the top.

Students made water ‘walk’ from one cup to another. By placing water in one cup and paper towel in it and in the empty cup next to it, the water moved from one cup to another. Adding colours to water made it easier for us to see the water moving from cup to cup.

Our last experiment and the most popular with our class was bicarbonate soda and vinegar. We placed a spoonful of bicarbonate in the bottom of a cup and then watched in amazement as we added vinegar. The mixture fizzed and bubbled all the way up the cup and overflowed out. Some students thought this looked like a volcano exploding.

We have had so much fun mixing materials!

Robyn White - Teacher