Toroa is integrating their Science learning this term into our reading, where we have been getting hands-on and learning how we can gather and interpret data.

We know our tamariki gain so much more when learning includes hands-on activities and even better when they involve collaboration with a variety of students. During our reading this term, students have been reading a variety of texts that have delved in the world of water, and the staff have turned this information into a chance for them to work together on science experiments that help them gather more information and data, and therefore better interpret it.

We have all heard the saying "Water of a ducks back" and as part of a text around Oil Spills and the Rena disaster, student got to see this saying in action as they tested out duck feathers in water, and got to look at them under a microscope to see the water beading up close, and to understand the make up of feathers.

The student's were amazed at what they could see, and then saddened to see the difference when they tried out the same experiment in oil which simulated the impacts of oil spills on our wildlife.

Students worked hard to gather information and data, which helped them in following days as they made sense of it, and wrote further information about the impacts of oil spills.

To get the students thinking deeper about oil spills, the students were then handed another experiment where they were challenged to clean up oil in water using a variety of tools to simulate actual techniques that are used such as skimming, absorbing, booms and dispersants.

As students worked through the experiment, their conversations showed their developing understanding of the techniques and they began to make decisions about which one they thought to be better and their reasons why (evidence).

Not only did these opportunities allow our tamariki a chance to learn about real life situations, but they collaborated with a variety of people, shared ideas, listened and took on board those of others, and formed some of their own opinions based on gathering and interpreting data.

We can't wait to do some more experiments with them!