T3 Pūtaiao (Science)

For pūtaiao (science) this term, our ākonga have been investigating the material world and considering how some of the materials which make our modern world possible are created. 

To start, we looked at how molecules can be linked together to make polymers and how this process changes their properties. To illustrate this students made PVA polymer balls, changing sticky glue into a bouncy rubber which then hardened into a form of bioplastic. Students created cornstarch bioplastics to learn how we can make plastics that are readily biodegradable in the environment.

Next, we ventured into the realm of composites, discovering how combining different materials can produce something entirely new. Our students became real-life engineers, constructing their mini-concrete, fibreglass, and plywood using everyday items like salt dough, skewers, and cardboard. To test the strength and durability of their creations, we put them through a process called mechanical destructive testing where students added weight to their materials to find the point at which they failed. Watching their materials crumble under increasing pressure was both exciting and informative; several students were impressed to find out that destructive testing was an actual engineering job that they could do in the future!