Learning comes alive when students are given the freedom to explore, test ideas, and enjoy the process together. This term, Year 4 students embraced curiosity and responsibility as they investigated materials and their properties through hands‑on Chemical Sciences challenges.
This term, our Year 4 students have been enthusiastically exploring the world of Chemical Sciences through a series of investigations about materials and their properties. Through this Chemical Science unit, students have thoughtfully embraced threads: taking responsibility and Relishing Play. Students considered how to be good caretakers of the earth by reusing materials wherever possible, reducing waste by repurposing paper, cardboard, and packaging supplies across multiple experiments. Through their investigations our class encountered many new memories of creativity, teamwork and laughter as each student worked together to test ideas and solve challenges.
One of our favourite investigations asked the question: What material best protects a biscuit from impact? Students worked in teams using a range of protective packaging materials including cardboard, paper and bubble wrap. Their challenge was to keep a biscuit safe as a weight of 200g or a juice box of 250ml was dropped from various levels of height. Before testing, students made predictions and discussed which materials they believed would best absorb impact.
“I was surprised by the materials that worked!” – Ahava V
“It was fun to see how much material could save a biscuit!” – Nate L
“I thought the bubble wrap could withstand more weight and I loved eating the biscuit.” – Vantha L
The room was filled with lots of chatter and excitement as each team tested the materials and carefully examined the results. Some biscuits survived perfectly at lower heights, while others cracked under pressure! Through this investigation, students discovered that materials have different properties such as flexibility, strength, softness, and cushioning ability. They also learned that combining and layering materials could improve protection.
“It was fun and I liked investigating something new.” – Arianh Phu
“I liked dropping the weight on the biscuit to see if it could survive.” – Isaac C
“The best part was dropping the weight on the biscuits and seeing at which height the biscuit would crack” – Nhyiraba A
It has been wonderful to watch each student learn through curiosity, play, and hands-on discovery! A question for you and your child to ponder on: How can we use God’s creation responsibly by choosing materials wisely, reducing waste, and caring for the world around us?
