News from Science Club

This term Science Club was visited by students from Royal Holloway University who taught us some Geology, and showed us how to make edible rocks using chocolate, biscuits and marshmallows. During another session we simulated a tornado inside a water bottle and explored the science of weather.

We visited the OPAL Weather Roadshow at Silwood Park, Ascot to do fun activities including making a cloud in a bottle, generating a 1metre high tornado, and making our own live weather forecast using green screen technology – just like on the TV.

Other activities for Year 7 have included making and testing toothpastes and glue. We also investigated the nutritional content of foods and the properties of jelly. The forensic science investigation proved a hit as the students examined hair samples under the microscope and undertook fingerprinting analysis as they examined evidence from a mock crime scene.

Members of science club took part in assemblies during science week, performing a magic trick where they turned water into ‘wine’ and amazed the audience with the undamaged £5 note after setting light to it.

Year 8 have been studying plants – growing beans from seed, looking at the structure of their various parts under the microscope & dying some white carnations red & blue!

We have also investigated the science behind water-powered rockets, made balloon-powered model cars (loosely modelled on the Bloodhound SSC, but nowhere near it’s 1000mph target speed), and learnt about static electricity using the Van der Graaf generator.

Anyone else who is interested in coming along to Year 7 or Year 8 Science Club in September 2011 should contact Mr Barrett in S11 or Miss Sealy in S2.

Salters' Chemistry Festival

Four members of Year 8 Science Club (Arran Paul, Caroline Carter, Isaac Gardiner and Katie Rock) were selected to represent Charters at a Salters’ Chemistry Festival at Reading University. They had to tackle 2 challenges, without help from teachers: one to identify a murder suspect using forensic evidence, the second to create a range of “paint” colours using acids, alkalis and indicators. They then watched a dramatic Chemistry demonstration involving liquid nitrogen and other exciting experiments.

Mrs Foulston was impressed by their competence in the tasks, and delighted that they won 2nd prize after competing against 15 other schools.