On Friday we completed our final week of science investigation on decay - yes, not the most pleasant of subjects!
Over 5 weeks the children investigated the decay process of plastic, biodegradable plastic, wood, potato, apple and bread.
The different materials were stored in different conditions; normal environment, a different temperature (the fridge), an environment with moisture added and an air-tight environment.
Over 5 weeks the children investigated the decay process of plastic, biodegradable plastic, wood, potato, apple and bread.
The different materials were stored in different conditions; normal environment, a different temperature (the fridge), an environment with moisture added and an air-tight environment.
Bread: This was the most exciting one! The one with water added began to disintegrate and was very slightly mouldy. The one in the fridge remained soft with no change. The bread in a normal environment had completely turned black and slightly green and was covered in mould. Most interestingly in our investigation, the bread in an air-tight container was covered in green mould, and also white fluffy mould.
We were all so fascinated by the different moulds on this!
We were all so fascinated by the different moulds on this!
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Plastic: no change
Biodegradable plastic: no change, except the one with water added had some yellowing to the water as the weeks progressed.
Wood: change, except the one with water added absorbed the water and swelled up.
Potato: the one with water added grew shoots and roots and was still hard. The one that was in the normal environment began to shoot.
Apple: the one with water added added really began to show the decay process and became very soft. The others all remained hard and the decay process was only partly visible.
Biodegradable plastic: no change, except the one with water added had some yellowing to the water as the weeks progressed.
Wood: change, except the one with water added absorbed the water and swelled up.
Potato: the one with water added grew shoots and roots and was still hard. The one that was in the normal environment began to shoot.
Apple: the one with water added added really began to show the decay process and became very soft. The others all remained hard and the decay process was only partly visible.
Our investigation concluded that even after five weeks, none of the materials had completely broken down and that the decay process whilst visually impressive in the case of the bread still takes a very long time; and that the wood whilst it is biodegradable, may take about two year to decay!
We discussed how the plastic is synthetic and may never break down.
Great use if these Learning Gems:
We discussed how the plastic is synthetic and may never break down.
Great use if these Learning Gems:
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