Grade Six Science

How was your past week? How well did you treat your teachers on International Teachers Day last week? Do ensure that you keep revising. That’s key to your success.

Now for our work in Science: Did you enjoy last week’s word searches? This week we will find out more about the functions of each food group then begin a new topic, Matter.

Foods from each group contribute to our overall health.

Grains

One quarter of your plate should be grains. The grains should be whole grains. These whole grains are a source of magnesium, vitamin B and fibre. These work collectively to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Vegetables

Vegetables are loaded with good nutrition and are low on fat. A diet rich in vegetables reduces the risk of many diseases for example, certain types of cancer, stroke and heart disease.

Fruits

Fruits are a nutritional power house. They are a good source of potassium, vitamin C, folic acid and fibre, and contribute to healthy weight.

Protein Foods

Protein foods support muscles and are an important component of body tissues, blood and hormones. They can also prevent heart disease.

Dairy

Dairy foods have all the essential nutrients for bone health. It also helps to lower the risk of heart disease and helps to reduce blood pressure.

Oils

Although oils are not really considered to be a food group, they contribute to being part of a healthy diet.

Fats and Sugars

These are concentrated sources of energy and so should be eaten in smaller quantities. Too much fat, oil and sugar can lead to serious overweight and can affect the heart and blood circulation.

Functions

Complete the following table

Draw a line around each of the following words in the squares above: VEGETABLES FATS CEREALS

MAHANGU BEANS

FISH FRUIT

MILK SUGARS

This week we will begin our investigation of Matter. What is matter? Can oil, gold, drink, air, water, bricks or sand be classified as matter?

So, all the items named above can be classified as matter. Everything on this earth that we know of is matter. Do give a few more examples.

Matter can exist in three states. (These states are sometimes referred to as phases or forms.) Can you list these states of matter? Did you list solid, liquid and gas? You’re right. Matter exists as solid, liquid or gas (or a combination).

Solids

Get a pebble, a pin, a stopper and a piece of chalk. Touch, move, and twirl each of them in your fingers. Put them all into a bottle and shake it a bit. What do you notice? Do these objects change in any way? These objects are all examples of solids. Name a few more. You can hold solids. Solids have a certain or particular shape. They remain in the same shape wherever we put them. We ca pick them up (unless of course, they are too heavy) and move them from place to place. Some solids are hard and some are soft. Some are sticky and some can be stretched. Would you please name a few from each category? That’s good. Did you name elastic or a rubber band for the category of solids that can be stretched? You can perhaps do it like this.

Liquids

Some liquids are water, oil, vinegar, essence and wine. I’m sure that you can name many more. Pour some coloured water or milk into a container. Now throw it into a container of a completely different shape. What do you observe? You will find that liquids change their shape. Liquids have no special shape or shape of their own. They take the shape of the container that they are in. They first take up the shape of the bottom of the container and the surface is level, regardless of if you twist it.

When a liquid is still its surface is level.

Liquids take up the same amount of space in one container as in another. Their volume remains the same when poured into a container that is different in shape. We keep a liquid in a solid to stop it from flowing away. Look at some liquids.