Science Centre Field Trip

Yesterday we had a really fun day at the Science Centre. Many students were quoted saying that it was the "best field trip ever!" :) 

Grade Fours participated in a program called Machine Talent Show. Our teacher Simone reviewed the simple machines and was impressed with how much we knew! They are: 

• Lever
• Wedge
• Pulley
• Gear
• Incline Plane
• Wheel & Axle
• Screw

Then, she showed us this video of a cam and follower system (click here). She showed us an example and the materials we had to work with. We worked in groups to try to build one. We got to choose the shape of our cam, which changed the action that our chicken (a feather) did. 

Grade Fives participated in a program called Sparking Circuits. We made circuits. We tried to turn on an LED light without using a battery. We turned a turbine and that powered the light, which is an example of wind energy. To create a power source that can continuously run the light without using a battery we attached the motor to a button which when we press "on", it will run and power the light.  We also learned the difference between LED lights and incandescent lights. Incandescent lights get hotter than LED and incandescent use more energy. LED are more "picky" that their power source is lined up properly with the positive and negative terminals are in the right place. 

We also learned about static electricity.