Alchemy Science!!

This week in science, we are learning about Alchemy. The aim is, "I want to find out how to turn a copper coin into gold". Before you can do this experiment, you will need a couple of equipment.

Equipment: 

• Copper Coin
• Bunsen Burner
• Tripod
• Heat Mat
• Gauze Mat
• 50ml beaker
• Scissor Tongs
• Zinc Metal
• Zinc Nitrate Solution
• Safety Glasses

Now to do this experiment, you will need to put on your safety glasses. After that set up the heating equipment, add 50ml of Zinc Nitrate Solution. Then add the strips of Zinc Metal into the solution, heat up the beaker with a blue flame. When the solution is boiling, add the copper coin to the top of the Zinc Metal and wait for 10 minutes, by using scissor tongs, get the coin and wash it under water. Keep the coin to the scissor tongs and hold the coin in the blue flame. Then you should have a different coloured coin, our coin was a little gold but not that much... But maybe if we could have boiled it for a longer time and maybe put more Zinc Metal Strips, maybe we would have got a different result. Here are some pictures of the experiment. I hope you enjoyed! 

Orana Park Visit!!

• On Tuesday the 18th of September, the year 7s went to Orana Park. But some of the year 7s didn't go because of Koru games. We saw some very unique animals and what they can do, we also learned the word "HIPPO". The H stands for habitat loss, I stands for invasive species, P stands for pollution, the other P stands for population growth and finally, O stands for Overexploitation. We also saw some native animals, they were kiwis, keas, pukekos, Emos. Here are all the animals that we saw… Kiwis, Keas, Spider Monkeys, Lions, Tasmanian Devils, Tigers, Zebras, Buffalos, Cheetahs, Apes, Orangutans, Rhinos, Giraffes, Meerkats, Llamas, Wild Dogs, Emu, Addax. But that’s not all, our zoo teacher showed us some very wonderful things. For example the rhino horn and rhino teeth. This is what we all learned.
  
  
  • Giraffes tongues changed colour to purple so it doesn’t get sunburnt, they can also kick in every direction.
  • Rhino horn is made out of the same material as our hair and toenails which is keratin.
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    The rhinos also eat the Giraffe’s grass at Orana Park so that the Giraffes won’t eat it because it will make them sick.
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    The Kiwis need strong legs to kick predators away from him/her.
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    Chocolates are toxic for Keas. Make sure that if there is a Kea on your car don’t drive yet but try to remove the kea.
  • If you drove while the kea is on your car it can fall off and could possibly die.
  • Zebras are born black and then develop their white stripes. Every zebra has a unique stripe.
  • Kiwis carry their eggs for 28 days. At 6 weeks old kiwis chicks leave their mum. Female Kiwis are larger to carry the eggs.
  • They have no tail and their wings are underdeveloped. They only eat insects that are alive.
  • Tasmanian Devils are marsupials and carry their babies in their pouches like kangaroos. But only the strongest 4 would survive because the mum has only 4 teeth to feed on. They cling to each other’s backs to get carried.
  • Lions have the loudest roar of the cats. It can be heard from 5 miles away.
  • Cheetahs are the only large cats that can purr. Cheetahs also need to rest after they hunt for food, but sometimes when they rest their food can be stolen.
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  • The oldest ape or the boss is dominant and the young apes MUST give him whatever he wants.
  • 
    One meerkat will stand on its hind legs, propped up by its tail, and act as a lookout while the rest of the mob is outside looking for food.
  • Tigers live alone and spray to let other tigers know that a tiger already owns this territory.
  • 
    Spider Monkeys have a thumbprint on the end of their tails. They use their tails for balance.
  
  
  

Fixed Mindset VS Growth Mindset!!

This term in Philosophy we started to learn more about what fixed and growth mindset looks like. Last week Mr.Scott proceeded a secret experiment that he told us after. It was about the reaction and the results that students got when they were told certain things. Four groups were arranged to answer riddles, with one half being to that they were really smart and they could do everything, with the other half being told that they could do it because they worked hard. As expected the ones who were told that they could do it because they worked hard had a significantly higher score and that they did not even try to cheat while the other half, not only did they get lower points but also they tried to cheat. That goes to show, words could change everything.

I think that I have a growth mindset because I always keep trying and always do my best work... But I may have sometimes when I have a fixed mindset. An example at basketball, I always thought that I wasn't good enough and make shots at the hoops. But now I am more confident and I also practiced and practiced to get a new result.

Ice Experiment!!

This term in science, we have been experimenting with ice and salt. To do this experiment you will these following equipment.

Equipment: 

• A bowl of cold water
• A matchstick
• An ice cube
• Table salt

If you want to do this experiment, follow these instructions.

Place the cube carefully in the bowl (beaker) of cold water Gently place the matchstick lengthwise on the top of the ice cube Sprinkle enough salt on the ice cube with the matchstick Wait for 30 seconds Gently lift the ice cube to see if the matchstick was sticking on the ice cube like the matchstick was glued on the ice cube.

Outcome: 

The ice was supposed to stick at the matchstick but in my group, it didn't stick to the matchstick. We probably tried about 7 times and it still didn't work. 

Why did the matchstick stick on the ice cube?

It is because of the salt. When the salt goes into the ice, the ice will become colder and it will melt. So when it melts it will start to stick on an object, just like what happened with the matchstick. But unfortunately, it didn't work on us. But I hope you enjoy and I hope you learn something.

Learn about geometry!!

This week in maths, we have been learning about geometry knowledge. We had to write an explanation about all geometry knowledge. Here is seven of them, the line of symmetry, rotational symmetry, translation, reflection, rotation, tesselation and last of all enlargement. I explained all of these by using a slideshow, this slideshow will have all the information about this geometry knowledge. I hope you
enjoy, and I also hope you learn something...

 

Do elephants brush their teeth?

This week in science, we made elephant's toothpaste! What is an elephant's toothpaste you may ask? Elephant's toothpaste is like a foamy substance, that can be warm or cold. When we made the elephant toothpaste our one was warm. It also didn't smell that nice... It kinda smelt like durian for some reason. If you want to make your own elephant toothpaste here are the resources you will need.

Resources:

• Safety glasses
• A cylinder
• Rubber gloves
• A tote tray to protect the bench from damage
• 120ml Hydrogen Peroxide 6%  
• Dishwash liquid
• Dry yeast
• Food colouring
• Funnel
• Tablespoon
• Beaker

Now here is the procedure

Procedure:

1. Put on your gloves and goggles.
2. Put a tote tray on the bench and put your cylinder in the tote tray, with the funnel in the top.
3. Ask the teacher to pour the hydrogen peroxide into your cylinder (via the funnel).
4. Add 10 drops of food colouring to the cylinder (via the funnel).
5. Add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to the bottle (via the funnel).
6. Swirl your cylinder around to mix everything together.
7. In a beaker, mix a tablespoon of dry yeast with 3 tablespoons of warm water and stir for 30 seconds.
8. Pour the yeast mixture into the cylinder (via the funnel).
9. Stand back and watch the chemical reaction!
10. Pour the mixture down the drain afterward and wash out the cylinder.

Now you should have a fluffy like toothpaste! Here is how it works.

Scientific Explanation (How it works):

The yeast and water mixture acts as a catalyst - something that speeds up a chemical reaction in another substance while remaining unchanged itself. When you add this to the cylinder it makes the hydrogen peroxide break down into oxygen and water. The dishwashing liquid traps the oxygen in bubbles to create the foam. Just a small amount of hydrogen peroxide will create a lot of oxygen, so you get loads of bubbles - making your ‘toothpaste’ almost explode out of the cylinder.

I need your "HELP!"

For the last 3 weeks, we are going to have a commenting challenge. Here is the challenge.
Over the next three weeks track how many comments you receive and who they are from. Each community group is worth a different amount of points. The team (Cybersmart Buddies) who have the most points by the end of the term will receive a reward. You can bribe, market and sell your blog in whatever way you see fit! Who is your target audience going to be???

Please help me with this challenge I would really appreciate it. Thank You!