Investigating in science exploring and making sense of the World Many schools participate in science fairs at this time

e of year; either in-house celebrations with whole class or small group investigations or in local, regional or national events. There are many ways to investigate in science see http://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-science/Teaching-Strategies/Types-ofinvestigation for descriptions about the different types of investigations. Fair testing is a common form of investigation and although it has limitations is commonly used in science fair exhibits. Fair testing involves identifying variables and then exploring the relationship between variables. A single variable is changed while keeping the other variables the same, any differences can then be attributed to the changed variable. Students need to explore and practice this process and whole class investigations are a useful way of doing this, starting with year 1 students. The process has the following components: Exploring a situation Asking questions Making predictions Using systematic approaches and conventions Processing and interpreting Evaluating the process Reporting See http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/exemplars/sci/matrices/matrix_inv_pop_e.php for the science exemplar matrix, indicator progressions and examples of possible investigations. One way of sharing and using this process as a learning tool is to capture the investigation and use photos and the students predictions, observations and comments to make a power point presentation, a big book or using any other presentation tools as appropriate.

Sugar Sweet What You Need: Small flat white container Water Blu Tack 4 Gobstoppers (4 different colours) What You Do: 1. Place four pieces of Blu Tack evenly around the edge of the container

2. Press a different coloured gobstopper firmly onto each of the pieces of Blu Tack

3. Carefully pour water into the container until the gobstoppers are covered

4.

OBSERVE carefully what happens

5. What questions do you have about this activity? If we changed the. Would the .? Could we try.? Think about changing: The temperature of the water The type of sweets The colour of the sweets The shape of the container The amount of liquid The type of liquid Or 6. How could you answer your questions?

Think about further exploration, searching the internet, or asking an expert, visiting a library or.. The Science Ideas: Whats Going On Here? This activity only works with sweets where the colour is embedded in a sugar coating, because it is the sugar that creates the effect, not the colour. Gravity is the driving force that spreads the colour. As the sugar (and colour) dissolve, a dense solution is formed that sinks to the bottom where it is pushed outward by the solution still falling from above. When the two colours meet the concentrations are the same, so they stop. After a much longer period, if you look closely, diffusion will start to cause the colours to mix.
Mary Loveless National Facilitator Blended e-Learning PLD Programme (Science) University of Waikato