Computing Facilities

The school has extensive IT facilities. Two years ago, we installed a new Computing lab next door to the GP Room.

The Computing Lab contains 12 Apple iMacs running Mac OS X Leopard. These machines have 17" LCD displays, run 1.8GHz Intel Core Duo processors and have 2GB RAM each. They run a collection of software including the Apple iWork suite.



Over the summer, we added a 'mobile lab', which is a set of 12 Apple MacBook computers (2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 13" displays, 4GB RAM). These laptops are able to be used in any classroom in the school via our private wireless network. Since the Computing Lab is now timetabled for most of the week, the mobile lab gives other classes a chance to do some ICT work.

Result just in...

The polls have closed and the votes have been counted.  The result of the vote on the Cedars School Arts Blog was handed over to the Maths Department for analysis. We decided to show the data in a pie chart instead of a bar graph as it shows the share of the vote more clearly.  It is clear that no single answer achieved a majority but that over 75% of those who voted agreed with the re-introduction of the death penalty in some circumstances.

I think that using the computer to do a pie chart is a lot easier than using paper and pen to draw a pie chart.  Using paper and pencil is harder because you have to draw it all out using a ruler for drawing lines, a protractor for measuring angles and compasses for drawing circles. When you use computer you only have to press a few of buttons and there it is in front of you.

Hannah

I found that using a pie chart was effective as the information was quicker to collect than using a bar graph. Using a 3d pie chart was less effective as the presentation was less accurate and not as clear because of perspective.  I prefer using the computer to do pie charts as it is quicker and neater. 

by miss jessica mcerlean x

Mr C

Chemical Reactions

In chemistry we have been looking at chemical reactions.  

This first video shows what happens when you react magnesium with oxygen in a bunsen burner flame.

We also reacted calcium with water and collected the gas in a test tube.  We then carried out the "pop" test to prove that the gas was hydrogen.

*outtake* One that didn't go to plan!

Fresh Milk!

We have been testing the milk in the staff fridge using the resazurin test. We also tested milk that had been left out of the fridge for a few days. If the milk is fresh the test turns blue if it is not fresh the test turns pink. You will be glad to know that the milk you make your tea with is safe! Hannah and Jessica X

Parents Information Evening

Tonight we held our parents information evening. It was a really enjoyable night and a great opportunity to meet with parents and discuss the current exciting moves in Scottish Education.
Than you all for coming!

Mrs Speirs and all the staff

Wonderful Work Wall

Today saw the first display go up. Hannah, Jessica and Massimo (off camera) were keen to compare bar graphs drawn by hand with those done on computer. See their conclusions below:

"I thought that using the computer took a while as it took up the whole period whereas just using pen and paper takes half the time. It might be neater on the computer and easier to read but it is quicker with pen and pencil." Hannah.

"I found using the computer was more effective than pen and paper because it made it look neater and creative. I liked using pen and paper as well as we could do our own designs on the bar graph. If we used the computer technique more often we could create and design graphs much quicker in the future." Jessica.

"I thought that using the computer was easier than pen and paper But pen and paper was faster. If you used the computer more often then you would get faster on the computer." Massimo.

Mr C

Owl Pellet Detectives!

Today in science we were dissecting owl pellets. Owl pellets are coughed up by owls. They contain the parts of the animals that they have eaten that they cannot easily digest. We cut them up to investigate what kinds of animals the eagle owl had been eating.

We found bones, feathers, gristle and what looked like a part of a claw. From these clues we decided that the owl had been eating chicks. Miss Wells told us that the pellets were from the eagle owls that live where she works and that they had indeed been fed baby chicks! 

Case solved!

The P7 Science class

Move over George Burley

S1 have been learning about factors; an essential skill to master algebra next year.  They tried to use knowledge and strategy to beat the computer at 'Pick Your Players'.  Lauren and Angus managed it and can be seen savouring their victories (Jessica won too).

Try the game below. For full screen and instructions click here.

Mr C

What are the chances of that?

S3/4 were looking at probability today.  They discovered  it's possible to mathematically predict the chance of an event occurring.  Then they put their new knowledge to the test in a game of 'Higher or Lower?'.  Team 1 were victorious with 381 points and can be seen below demonstrating that they are Kings and Queens of the game.  Team 2 finished with a disappointing 2 points but still seemed happy with their prize of an apple core.

Want to test your probability skills?  Try the game below.  For full screen click here.

Mr C

P.S. No money changed hands during any part of this lesson.  Honest!

Dairy Industries - Milk and Cheese

This week we have been tasting different types of milk and cheese.

Mrs Creighton was a special guest from the Arts Department when we were having our cheese party.

Carol Vorderman leaving Countdown shocker!

It's the news that rocked the nation...

...but you can get over the disappointment by playing it here on our blog!  A favourite of many of our mathematicians, it's fun for all the family.  And there's the added bonus of not having to view adverts for Werther's Originals.

Enjoy!

Mr C 

Negative Numbers!

Today in maths we were doing negative numbers. The exercise we were doing was exercise 2.2 in the maths b2 book. We have Mr Jewell on a Wednesday. I was glad for it to end in someways cause we had landscaping after it. I did very well I got all my answers correct. Negative numbers are usually used for recording temperatures, especially in cold countries!

Jessica S1

Active Maths!

Welcome to the first ever Maths posting on the Science Faculty Blog.  

On Friday P7 and S1 got the opportunity to play Line Em Up; a game that's a happy marriage of strategy and multiplication skills!  It can be found alongside a number of other games on the Active Maths website.  Pupils know the password!

The top scorer in P7 was Christopher with 310 and in S1 it was Jessica with a whopping 629.  Well done to you both!

A number of pupils were keen to share their thoughts...

"I think using the mobile laptops is really fun and the games are quite cool once  you understand them." Lauren S1

"It's brilliant playing the Maths game.  It makes maths really fun."  Angus S1

"I like Active Maths because it is fun and educational and even if you get a wrong answer you can just play again."  Shannon P7

Mr C

P.S. If you know the rules you can try the game below!  See the rules here

Gecko!

As well as the chicks Ali also brought her pet Gecko, Khamie to show us. Khamie is a leopard gecko from Pakistan. She was a favourite of many of the children (and teachers!)

Mr J :) (photo by Kerr, S1)

Groovy Chicks!

In S1 science today we were visited my Miss Ali Wells, who works at a farm park in the north of England. She brought along some chicks that were one and a half weeks old. We all enjoyed holding them and talking about their life cycles. The chicks are all male and will one day grow into cockerels! Many children want to take one home which is fine as long as you have a shed gig enough to keep one and neighbors who don't mind being woken up at 5am! Here are some videos of us and the chicks:







Mr J :) and S1

Life Cycles - P7/S1 Science

Today in Science we are looking at life cycles. We have been looking at seeds and how they are dispersed. Today we are looking at flowers and labelling the various parts of a flowering plant. One of the activities we are doing today is below!

Mr J :)

Bread and Butter

Today we made bread and then ate some for lunch.

Green Fingers!

We are planting seeds today so that when the cultivation station is outside we can grow some vegetables. Today we planted winter lettuce and radish. (Scott, Alexander, Chloe, Beth and Jonathon)

Frogs Alive!

We have now 2 White's Tree Frogs in a tank at the front door. They have settled in nicely and are eating their way through lots of crickets. Here is Amber who is holding the crickets after bravely picking some up and putting them into the tank for the frogs. Well done Amber!

Yeast Investigation

We are looking at what effects how bread rises.

I am investigating different types of flour. (Jessica )

I am investigating different temperatures. I think the one at the highest temperature will work the best. (Hannah)

I am looking at different types of yeast I think Doves will work the best. (Massimo)

Welcome!

Welcome to Cedars School Science Faculty Blog!
Over the coming months and years we will be keeping you up to date with many of the diverse and exciting activities of various subjects in the Science and Technology departments.

Please keep checking the blog for updates and leave us your comments and encouragements!

Mrs Offord, Miss Bell, Mr Jewell, Mr Creighton and Mr Speirs