My Science Investigation

LI: to investigate the effect of different types of physical activities on heart rate.

Our focus this week was based on looking at the heart rates after doing certain physical activities. First, we looked at our prior knowledge about the heart rates. After this, we wrote down some questions which were about what we wanted to know about heart rates. When writing the questions, we wrote our hypothesis (what we thought the answer to the questions were). Our investigation part consisted of completing the 6 activites: sitting, jogging, throwing/catching, stretching, star jumps and running. My hypothesis was about how I thought running on the spot will cause my highest blood rate. I enjoyed this investigation because I am interested in blood pressure. One thing I learned was that blood rate is measured in mmHg. 

My Science Investigation

LI: to research about the taste buds of the tongue.

Our focus this week was based off of looking at the different tase buds located on the tongue. First we looked at our prior knowledge of taste buds. After doing so, we filled out the table that had steps 1-7. We looked at the investigation/research part. After that, we came up with questions that we wanted to be answered at the end of the experiment. Then we wrote down our hypothesis (what we think the answers to our questions are). 

Next we did some research about the taste buds and how sensitive they can be. The five taste buds are: sour, sweet, bitter, salt and savory. How these taste buds work is when the food/drink makes contact with your taste buds, the taste buds will know what the taste will be depending on the type of food/drink. For example: if I drink lemon juice, the lemon juice will make contact with the sour taste buds and notify my brain of the taste. 

To find out the taste of certain solutions, we got spoons and put the different solutions on them. Then we tasted the solutions. If the majority of us had the same taste, we put a tick on the part where we tasted. If someone didn't have the same taste as us, we wrote down their name. This gave us a conclusion of how everyone has different taste buds. 

I enjoyed this weeks science project because it taught me things I did not know about the tongue. 

Topic 8 - Acids and Bases

LI: to learn about acids and bases.

Our focus today was about looking at the acidity/base level of different substances. We got into partners and answered some questions using our prior knowledge. After this, we looked at the different substances we would be using today. 

In order to measure the pH balance or scale we used litmus. Litmus is a piece of paper that has the ability to change colours depending on the acidity, base or neutral level of a certain substance. If you take an acidic substance and dip the red litmus paper into it, it will stay the same or get even more darker. If you dip the blue litmus paper into the acidic substance, and it turns red, it is acidic. We tested 11 substances. Before testing them out with the litmus paper, we predicted what substances are acidic, neutral or basic. After that, we tested them out and checked to see if our predictions were correct. I enjoyed this activity a lot because I am familiar with pH balances. 

Tech | Osmosis and Transpiration

LI: to learn about the process of osmosis and transpiration.

Today, our focus was based on looking at the osmosis and transpiration of a plant (celery). Our first task was to look at the photosynthesis cycle. The photosynthesis cycle helps a plant create their food. The leaves are the ones to create the food. The ingredients a leaf needs are: sunlight, water (H20) and carbon dioxide. All of these ingredients create sugar/glucose. Our second task was based off of the celery and food colouring experiment. We watched a video about how to conduct this experiment. We needed to observe how the water travels through the xylem to the leaves and back from the phloem. The coloured water helped us see the xylems. I found this activity very interesting and I did not know that water travels through xylem in order to get to the leaves. 

Tech | Bubble Science

LI: to conduct a scientific experiment about bubbles.

Our focus today, was to conduct a scientific experiment about bubbles. We first talked about our learning goal/outcome. The learning goal was to understand the science of bubbles. After that, we needed to learn about the science behind the bubbles. Bubbles have 3 layers. 2 of the layers are soap and one of them is water, it is like a sandwhich. Water particles attract to each other so when the soap is mixed along with the water, it reduces how much the water particles are attracted to each other. After that, we looked at the bubble challenges. They were: caterpillar, courasel and cube. By the end of this experiment we were able to talk about the results of the experiment. I managed to do all of these challanges. 

Science | Dissecting Hibiscus

LI: to learn about the different parts of a hibiscus flower.

Today, the year 7's went to tech to dissect a hibiscus flower. Our first task was based around our prior knowledge of the flowers. We answered two questions like: "What are your thoughts about flowers?" and "What have you noticed about flowers?". We did not have that much knowlegde about flowers. 

After this, we identified the parts of a hibiscus as our second task. On the right side, there is a stigma, style, anther, pollen tube, sepal and thalamus. On the left side, there was the male gametophyte, petal, ovule and female gametophyte. 

The next task was to dissect the flower. We used tools like: knife, cutting board and toothpick, We carefully removes one petal and one sepal. After this, we pinched the sides of the ovary and made a smooth cut down the middle. Then we removed the entire organ of from the style. 

While dissecting the flower, we saw the pollens. We placed one or two pollens to see them under a microscope.

I learned the many parts of a flower. I found it interesting that female and male cells are shared throughout a single flower. 

Topic 4 | Floating & Sinking

LI: to test the buoyancy of different materials.

Our focus for this week at science was about testing the buoyancy of different materials. First we discussed why some things float/sink/semi-float. Floating is the action of an object staying above water. Sinking is when something is unable to stay above water due to the density of it. Semi-float is when an object has the ability to both float and sink at the same time. We watched a video that explained what buoyancy/buoyant is. Buoyancy is the tendency of something that can float in water or a substance. 

After this, we gathered our materials and looked at the size of it, weight of it and what the object is made out of. We also made predictions on whether each object would sink or not. A prediction is an educated guess of something. Some of our objects were: cube, marble, tennis ball, rectangle block, plastic block and etc

We filled up our buckets up to 2/3 and started our experiment. My parnter and I started from the smallest objects up to the largest objects. Some of our predictions were correct. We noticed that the wood materials had the ability to semi-float. The plastic materials had the ability to float and the rubber materials could float/sink. 

I really enjoyed this experiment because it gave us the opportunity to learn about new things to do with buoyancy and sinking. One thing that I learned was that some objects have the ability to semi-float. I found this fact very interesting and cool. 

Science Exploration Topic 3 (Tech)

LI: to test how long it can take for sugar to dissolve in hot or cold water.

This week for our technology session, we looked at the amount of time it takes for sugar to dissolve in different tempatures of water. Our first experiment required cold water. We measured 100 ml of cold water into the beaker then looked at the tempature of the water which was 20°C. After this, we weighed 10 grams of sugar. To do this, we needed to place some sugar onto the Petri dish and transport that onto our weighing scale. We then poured our exact measurement of sugar into the cold water and mixed while looking at the amount of time it takes to dissolve with a stopwatch. It took the sugar 59.66 seconds for it to dissolve into the water making a solution. We did the same thing all over again but with hot water. The tempature was 75°C and the time it took to dissolve was 17.10 seconds. 

I enjoyed this activity very much because I am familiar with measuring water and weighing different types of materials/things. I learned that a solution is when a solid is mixed in with a liquid. I really enjoyed the part where we needed to measure 10 grams of sugar.

Science (Tech)

LI: To measure water using meniscus.

Today for Tech with Miss Sharmal, we explored the basic science laboratory equipment and performed an experiment based off of meniscus.

We found out that meniscus is the curve of water that occurs when water is inside of a beaker or measuring cylinder. A meniscus can cause improper measurements. The bottom of the meniscus (where the water is flat surfaced) can be measured instead to perform accurate measurements.

We used a beaker to measure 100ml of water and transferred 40ml of water to a measuring cylinder. We used a pipette to make sure our measurement was exact using our knowledge of meniscus. Then, we added 3 more ml of water to the measuring cylinder using the pipette.

 

I found this task easy because I am familiar with science/laboratory equipment and I enjoyed performing the experiment of measuring and exploring meniscus.

Tech Reflection

LI: to improve our cooking skills.

This week we were learning how to cook Saagwala. Saagwala is an indian type of curry which has the option of adding meat or no meat. 

First, in our groups of three, we collected our materials for our cooking. We needed a medium bowl, two knives, two measuring cups, a wooden spoon, a pot, two cutting boards and large spoon. 

After that, we gathered our ingredients. The ingredients were: two tablespoons of oil, one teaspoon of ginger, a small onion, two cloves of garlic, curry powder and masala, half a can of tomatos, salf, yogurt and spinach. 

First, we added the oil and ginger in our pot. I diced the onions and garlic into small cubes. Then we fried the onion, garlic and ginger with the oil on the stove.

Next, we added the powders into our mix and diluted that with half a cup of water to prevent stickiness. After mixing the ingredients together, we added the spinach. We let the spinach shrink and it ended up becoming a paste.

Lastly, we got some sticky rice and topped it off with our curry paste. 

I enjoyed this week's meal and would make it again at home. 

Food Technology (Reflection)

LI: to apply our food technology skills to cook food and improve ourselves. 

Today we held our second tech session for the term at Tamaki College with Ms Heka.

Our menu today was, pikelets with ice cream and mixed berry syrup. To make this we needed to work in groups of three. My group had Leon and Spelman. 

The ingredients consisted of: baking powder, flour, eggs, milk, bananas and oil. First, we mixed the dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) together. After mixing the dry ingredients, we combined the milk and eggs. We mashed the bananas into a smooth consistency. This makes it easy to add into the mixture. 

After preparing the ingredients, Ms Heka instructed us to create the batter by mixing in the wet ingredients with the flour and baking powder. We mixed this until there were no lumps in the batter. Then we added the banana mixture to the batter. 

We set the batter aside and started the stove. As we waited for the oil to heat, we cleaned our kitchen. Then we started to put the batter on the pan, subsequently making pikelets.

Later on, when the pikelets were all made and there was no batter left, we put the pikelets in our containers. Ms Heka added the vanilla ice cream and mixed berry syrup onto our pikelets.

I enjoyed today's session of food tech because I enjoyed cooking food and working as a group. The food was delicious and I would like to make this dish again. 

Food Technology (Reflection)

LI: to improve our food technology skills.

Today was our first technology session of the term at Tamaki College. 

When we arrived at Tamaki College, the year seven's went with Mrs Heka to the kitchen. In the kitchen, and Mrs Heka introduced herself and the rules in the kitchen. We got into groups, made a fruit salad and smoothies. 

I enjoyed today's session of tech and especially enjoyed working as a group to create the food.

About Me 2020

Salaam Alaikum.

My name is Farzana. I am Afghani. I am a year 6 in LS1 at Panmure Bridge School. I enjoy working on digital learning objects on my chromebook at school. At home I enjoy riding my skateboard. My favourite book is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. My favourite authors are J.K Rowling and Roald Dahl.

Technology | Ancient times

LI. To learn about earthworks, fortifications and examples in history. This week for inquiry Mr. Wong's group learnt about technology that people used in historical times. We got into a group of four and worked on a google presentation. In my group there was Victoria, Nicole and Sakina. We had to chose a technology to work on. We had a choice of ramparts, trenches, and hill forts. My group chose ramparts to work on because we think it is a good defensive structure used in historical days. They're usually used to defend a territory or important things like treasure. In the ancient days it was a good option and advantage.