Year 4 have been investigating the different states of matter: solid, liquid and gas, although we have also had some lively discussions about the fourth state, plasma.

We took the opportunity to visit one of the Science labs, where the boys were excited to observe the reaction between sodium bicarbonate and diluted acetic acid. Although we could not see the carbon dioxide, the gas quickly inflated the balloon.

Exploring changing states enabled the boys to put their prediction skills to the test. Do you know what happens to ketchup or cooking oil when it freezes? The boys should be able to tell you and explain the different properties when they melt.

As a final experiment before half term, the boys attempted to answer the question, “Which type of chocolate melts the quickest?” They resisted the temptation to eat any of the chocolate and tried to conduct a fair test, remembering which variables to control. Do you know which melts quickest: milk, dark or white chocolate? The results of our experiments may not have gone to plan, but that is the beauty of science — there is always an explanation!

Julia Vipond
Science and Maths Teacher