🔍 Friction in Action: Owls Discover the Science of Speed!
Jan16th
🚗 Zoom or Slow? Owls Explore How Surfaces Change Movement
This week in Science, Owls class became real investigators!
The children explored how different materials can change the speed of a car travelling down a ramp. They discovered that surfaces with more friction – such as rough or textured materials – slowed the car down because they created more resistance. In contrast, the smooth wooden surface had much less friction, allowing the car to travel much faster.
The children loved comparing the results and learning how friction affects movement. It was wonderful to see their curiosity shine as they predicted, tested, and discussed what they observed.
Mrs Henderson shared: “The children were so engaged in this experiment. They asked brilliant questions and really thought about why the car behaved differently on each surface. It’s fantastic to see them developing scientific thinking skills!”
Ideas for Follow-Up at Home
Ramp Challenge: Try building a simple ramp at home using books and a tray. Test different surfaces like carpet, foil, or cardboard and see which makes the car go fastest.
Friction Hunt: Go on a ‘friction walk’ around the house – which surfaces feel smooth and which feel rough? Talk about where friction is helpful (like shoes on the floor) and where it slows things down.
Creative Twist: Design a race track for toy cars and experiment with adding obstacles or textured sections. Can you predict what will happen?
This activity links beautifully to our school vision of Love, Learn, Shine – children loved working together, learned through hands-on investigation, and shone with their enthusiasm for science!
