On Friday 31st May 2024 we held a Mad Scientist Day. Children and staff dressed up as ‘Mad Scientists’ and Clare Primary School was awash with lots of Doctors, Professors and Investigators.
The aim of the day was for children to participate in science activities which would encourage them to be engaged and enthusiastic about science and to have an understanding about the ‘why behind the wow'.
Each class got stuck into lots of fun activities throughout the day…
P1 investigated the properties of water and explored the concepts of floating and sinking through lots of practical activities. They discovered that the size, shape and density of an object all influence whether and object will float or sink.
P2 explored 'Colour' on Mad Scientist Day. They investigated how colours could be mixed to make new colours and different shades. They even explored chromatography and diffusion by placing skittles in water. Everyone had lots of fun exploring the different shades and patterns created by the colours.
P3 explored the science behind a summer picnic. They investigated how colours help to keep us cool, what makes our bread soft and springy, some dancing fruits and floating foods too. They are awaiting a sunny day to test out their solar oven.
P4/5 had a go at exploding volcanoes in relation to their topic using two different methods. They also investigated how soap works and made some fireworks in a glass!
On the run up to ‘Mad Scientist Day’ P5/6 split into groups and made their very own volcano based on Mount Fuji, linking to our Term 3 Topic ‘Japan’. They were to paper mache a plastic bottle and mould it into a volcano shape. Once it had dried they had the fun job of painting their ‘Mount Fuji’, some even including some cherry blossom trees at the base! On Mad Scientist Day the pupils used bicarbonate of soda, lots of fairy liquid and the magic ingredient…vinegar to make their volcanoes erupt. This was lots of fun with some dramatic eruptions!
Primary 7 studied the life of William Reid Clanny (1776 – 1850), a scientist from Bangor who went on to invent a safety lamp for use in the mines after the Felling Mine Disaster in 1812. 92 miners lost their lives. They investigated what is required for a flame to light and reignite as well as how to distinguish a flame and how the science behind this is instrumental to the work of the Fire and Rescue Services.
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