Class LH have been finding out about different materials in science. Using the properties of materials, the children played “Guess what material I am?” to work out the object pinned to their backs. We also examined a variety of kitchen equipment to work out why the same item was made out different materials eg wood, metal, paper, plastic etc.
Thinking about suitable materials, the children were given a challenge to design a house for the three little pigs using either straw, sticks or bricks. There were some great problem-solving conversations happening. George and Gregory started off designing their own house but then decided that if they worked together, they could design a better house made out of sticks. Rosie, Freddie, and Harriet worked together to design the only straw house and overcame issues and problems about getting the straw to stay on. Gladness and Isabelle designed their straw house thinking very carefully about where the pig would live and testing it with a toy pig. Isla, Millie and Delilah adapted their brick house and showed great teamwork.
After we had built our houses, we used the huff and the puff from the big bad wolf (aka a hair dryer!!) to see how much puff would blow the houses down. The straw house had its roof blown off and moved across the floor; some of the sticks were dislodged on the stick houses and the Lego brick houses were very solid.
We talked about different types of houses that people live around the world but we all agreed the brick house would be the strongest and safest to protect us from weather.
