Rocks and Buildings in Orkney

sandstone limestone

conglomerate

We are studying rocks and minerals as part of our Materials investigation this term. We are testing for rock properties. We know these properties make rocks and minerals suitable for particular jobs.

The name for the study of rocks is geology.

Can you identify each local rock sample pictured on the blog?

We have found out there are 3 types of rock, IGNEOUS , METAMORPHIC and SEDIMENTARY.

We know Orkney has a lot of sedimentary rock (check out the BBC Learning Zone Class Clips animation link) in particular old red sandstone.

Sedimentary rock is rich in fossils.

Any rock or fossil examples locally that can be shared with us would be very much appreciated.

We have found out that local rocks used for building in Orkney in the past were sandstone, conglomerate and limestone.

We would welcome the expertise of a local builder who could explain to us the benefits and problems with old local building materials and advantages that new materials they work with might have .

We will be looking for rock samples around the school grounds and going to look for materials used in local Kirkwall buildings.

That's better! My tummy is rumbling though...

I'm so hungry! I haven't had anything to eat since I put myself

back together again.

...just a quick snack...class 4/5 will not be back for ages...

...mmnn...a really juicy , rusty tractor...

The Return of the Iron Man...

Which materials did we use to make our model?

...coming soon to a class near you...

'The wind sang through his iron fingers. His great iron head, shaped like a dustbin, slowly turned, this way that way. He was hearing the sea. His eyes, like headlamps,glowed white, then red,then infrared,searching the sea.

Never before had the iron man seen the sea...

I am sure I am still missing something?

Make Cornflour Slimeballs!

Some substances can't make up their mind if they are a liquid or a solid.
See what we mean when you try out this very messy experiment!

What you need
packet of cornflour, water, a wooden spoon, a bowl

What you do
step 1
Pour half the packet of cornflour into a bowl. Then gradually pour water over and
mix until it looks and feels like custard.
step 2
Run your fingers through the liquid.
step 3
Now try and punch the mixture with your fist.

What happens

When you run it through your fingers it acts like a liquid.When you
punch it, it becomes hard and behaves like a solid. (If it doesn't add more cornflour)

How and Why
The cornflour particles are suspended in the water, so it flows like a liquid.
When you apply force to it , the particles lock together, acting like a solid.
As soon as the force stops the slime goes back to being runny.

Now try to quickly make and throw a slimeball for a friend to catch
before it it turns runny! Have fun! Let us know how you get on!

Check out this link.

Check out the behaviour of particles!

To help us understand particles,

we acted out the different behaviour of

solid particles, liquid particles

and gas particles.

All three behave quite differently.

Can you work out which picture

demonstrates each of the 3

states of matter?

If you are not sure ask a class 4/5

pupil who will explain or demonstrate

the behaviour of each particle type

to you.

Science in the Snow...

Our science investigation in term 3 is Materials.

We put the freezing temperatures and ice outside to good use

as we explored the 3 states of matter , solid, liquid and gas.

By experimenting with ice collected in the playground

we found out that materials can change state

when heated or cooled.

We also noted that the changed state can

sometimes be reversed.

When a liquid is heated it evaporates

and forms gas e.g. steam from our boiling kettle.

When gas is cooled it condenses to form a liquid.

e.g our boiling kettle experiment repeated next to the cold

classroom window.

Snowtime!