Maths
Learners in Year 9 have been learning about what makes speed a compound measure. They have had to be particularly resilient with getting to grips with how you can perform calculations with measurements of time as it is non-decimal. They have had to be really careful to check their answers were realistic in their scale. To demonstrate their understanding learners had to work in their table teams to solve the “Speed Mystery”: namely how 4 friends made their way to Phnom Penh.
The learners developed this concept further to explore other compound measures: density and pressure. Through some pretty deep thinking about feathers and iron, as well as making great links to their learning in science, learners were able to find the relationship, and hence a formula, that connects density to mass and volume. They then followed the same process to formalise the relationship between pressure, force and area by considering the most effective way to burst a balloon. There was some great discussion about how the variables affect each other e.g. what happens to the density when you squash a sponge? What have you changed by squashing the sponge?
The class are moving on to extending their previous learning on volume and surface area to include compound shapes, prisms and forming algebraic expressions to describe volume or surface area of cuboids.
Learners in Year 9 have been learning about what makes speed a compound measure. They have had to be particularly resilient with getting to grips with how you can perform calculations with measurements of time as it is non-decimal. They have had to be really careful to check their answers were realistic in their scale. To demonstrate their understanding learners had to work in their table teams to solve the “Speed Mystery”: namely how 4 friends made their way to Phnom Penh.
The learners developed this concept further to explore other compound measures: density and pressure. Through some pretty deep thinking about feathers and iron, as well as making great links to their learning in science, learners were able to find the relationship, and hence a formula, that connects density to mass and volume. They then followed the same process to formalise the relationship between pressure, force and area by considering the most effective way to burst a balloon. There was some great discussion about how the variables affect each other e.g. what happens to the density when you squash a sponge? What have you changed by squashing the sponge?
The class are moving on to extending their previous learning on volume and surface area to include compound shapes, prisms and forming algebraic expressions to describe volume or surface area of cuboids.
Science
Year 9 are learning about our Earth, the atmosphere and climate change for the Community unit. We started by writing a letter to a scientist in the 1930s, as scientists didn’t then know what the Earth was made from or the realities of climate change that affect our lives today.
Although learners found it challenging to recall facts about the layers of our planet and gases of the atmosphere, it will provide a great reflection at the end of the unit as learners will be able to correct their letters.
We have explored what the layers of the Earth are and now know the shape of the magnetic field around our planet through an investigation of magnets.
Learners will be finding out about how the atmosphere was formed and what is contains. This will lead towards us discovering the realities of climate change and how it affects our daily lives.
We will also explore the formation of rocks and how elements are recycled on our planet. Learners will develop an understanding of the complex chemistry of our planet and how our actions affect the Earth.
Year 9 are learning about our Earth, the atmosphere and climate change for the Community unit. We started by writing a letter to a scientist in the 1930s, as scientists didn’t then know what the Earth was made from or the realities of climate change that affect our lives today.
Although learners found it challenging to recall facts about the layers of our planet and gases of the atmosphere, it will provide a great reflection at the end of the unit as learners will be able to correct their letters.
We have explored what the layers of the Earth are and now know the shape of the magnetic field around our planet through an investigation of magnets.
Learners will be finding out about how the atmosphere was formed and what is contains. This will lead towards us discovering the realities of climate change and how it affects our daily lives.
We will also explore the formation of rocks and how elements are recycled on our planet. Learners will develop an understanding of the complex chemistry of our planet and how our actions affect the Earth.