We are Scientists

To mark Science Week we have been supporting the development of children's curiosity and encouraging them to ask questions about how things work and what they observe.
There have been a number of experiments carried out over the week and repeated so children can return and recall learning and hypothesize why things happened. 

The Great Celery Experiment 
Children handled, smelt and broke up celery (some used sharp knives to cut the vegetable). The carefully followed instructions and added water and pink food dye to see whether we could turn the celery pink.
We left it overnight and children returned to observe what happened. Do you think the celery turned pink?
Our celery did not absorb the food dye up the stems and turn pink!

The Balloon Experiment
Children added vinegar to a bottle and put bicarbonate of soda inside a balloon. Next they placed the balloon over the rim of the bottle. They shook the bottle and the balloon inflated. A chemical reaction caused the balloon to inflate!
How else could you blow a balloon up?

Cress Growing Project
Children talked about what plants need to grow. Some of the children were able to suggest they needed a bed and water. Children placed cotton wool and cress seeds in a container and added water. They then left them in the wedge (which is a nice warm and bright room). They returned to observe them the following day and the cress was already growing. Children talked about what they could see and they tasted the cress!
Do you now what would have happened if the cress seeds had been placed in a dark room? 

An Erupting Volcano
Children read some information books about volcanoes. They worked all week, creating a large, clay volcano. After it was dry, they collaboratively painted it. 
Together in the garden at story time on Thursday, they created a chemical reaction using some special ingredients. 
They filled the volcano with bicarbonate of soda and red food dye and then poured vinegar it. 
Can you guess what happened?
Red lava spewed out and all over the table! Another chemical reaction. Children were amazed at the sight and the smell!