In today’s Pre Access Science class, we tested our learners to see if they could think outside the box. We continued the monthly theme of heavy and light and built upon our previous lessons by showing the correlation between quantity and weight. For example, pupils already knew that paper was very light and easy to lift, but what happened when we had lots of paper?

After passing around a single sheet of paper and exclaiming how light it was, pupils were shocked to find how much heavier paper was when there was so much of it! Students were given the chance to attempt to lift a big box full of paper and see if they could manage it! Unfortunately, the paper was much too heavy for anyone in our class, even the teachers! That’s when Science came to the rescue.

We learnt about different ways to lift, push, or pull heavy objects in the world around us! From balancing items on our heads, to fork lift trucks and cranes, there are many interesting ways to lift heavy objects! Pupils had to use the tools available to think of a way to move this heavy box!

After much deliberation, pupils decided that pulling the box using rope would be much easier than pushing or lifting it. Furthermore, rather than using just some string, we decided to make the string easier to pull by wrapping it in foam padding. We tied the knot and made our invention, then everyone was able to have the chance to move the heavy stacks of paper in the box.

Eureka! It worked! After using these materials to create a device, everyone was able to move the heavy box much easier! Well done scientists! There are some great engineers and inventors in our class, well done!

Charles