Microscopes

This week for science we learnt about microscopes. The first thing we did was go to the park to collect some plant and animal samples. It was a fun experience because we got to go out and collect things we found interesting. I didn't collect any living specimens because they would always run away. I decided just to grab some plant samples like grass and leaves to inspect. After that we couldn't use live specimens so we had to use methanol to kill them quickly.

On Thursday we decided to see our specimens under two different microscopes. One was called the dissection microscope. This meant that we could see the "living animals" but it didn't need light to be able to be seen. The other one is called the monocular microscope. this is used for plants like leaves and onions peels but you need sunlight to be able to see it. For the plants, we had to create a slide. A slide is two pieces of thin glass squishing a specimen with iodine to make it easier to see. I looked at a onion peel slice, and a Japanese red sponge. They looked really cool underneath the microscope because you can see it even closer and can also see the cells, here are some photos of them both.    

Gymnastics

In gymnastics this term I would be like to be able to learn how to do a back and forward dismount dismount on the parallel bars.

 So far I can do the forward dismount, but not the backwards dismount yet.

When I first started the Gymnastics unit I wasn't really happy about it because I didn't really like gymnastics, Now I like it a little bit more because its a fun topic that you have to work towards to be able to do. The first piece of equipment I went on were the Parallel bars. They were a little hard to learn at first but then I practiced more and now I can do a forward dismount on them. I still haven't learnt how to do a backwards dismount but I think next year I will be able to do them.

Here are some photos of me doing the Parallel bars

The Greats - Liberace

Wladziu Valentino Liberace, Known as Liberace is a famous american pianist, singer and actor. He was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, on may 16th 1919. His parents had immigrated from Formia, in italy. He had a identical twin that sadly died at birth, he had three other siblings, George, Angelina and Rudy. Liberace began playing the piano at the age of four, his father had also taken all his children to concerts to further interest them into music, also demanding the task master for high standards for his children, wanting them to perform at their best potential. By the age of seven he could memorise difficult pieces. By the age of 8 he had met Paderewski, the former prime-minister of poland.

Facts about Liberace

• Liberace is an american pianist who learnt how to play the piano at the age of four.
• Liberace's stage name as a teenager was Walter Busterkeys.

• Liberace Created a Cookbook, he also owned a restaurant
• Liberace invented a disappearing toilet, that retracted into the walls of a bathroom.

My First Solo Performance

Last week was the start of our solo performances, it was really nerve racking because it was my first time performing in front of the class. I played Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance on the Piano. I chose to play the song because it sounded really good on the piano so that's why I played it. I was happy enough with my performance because I practiced for a long time and felt happy with it. 

^Here is my performance^

Rockets To Planters

For the past two weeks for science we have been working on making bottle rockets. We were put into groups of three or four, I was working with Keira and Lorelei. The first thing we did was research about how we should make the fins and cone for the top of the rocket. We decided to make it with paper, and tape it to the rocket. For the fins we used hard cardboard and hot glued them all to the bottle. After we did that we painted it and then we were ready to launch them. We launched them with water pressure which was fun because they went far and water sprayed everywhere. Here is a photo of the rocket

We then created planters by cutting the bottle in half, cutting felt and putting it through the nose of the bottle. We then filled it with rocks, cotton balls and dirt and put the seeds in. after we did that we filled the bottom with water and then we were done. Here is a diagram of the bottle.





UPDATE:

So far the seeds have sprouted and it's only been 10 days! the planter works and it looks cool too. the sprouting only seems to be a little but its still really good, it means that the plant can further grow.



UPDATE: So far the seeds have grown even further, they also grew roots, Radishes haven't grown yet which means it has to grow more.


UPDATE #3: The leaves have grown even further but since we broke the roots from trying earlier, so the plant died and now we don't have radishes,

My Unique Organism - Cozaryious

For Science we were asked to create a unique organism that never existed. We were asked to name it, give a description of the habitat, Abiotic (Non living things) and Biotic (Living things) factors. I decided to name mine Cozaryious or Janiel Reavey. It lives in a waterfall beachey area on Earth. It slides around to find food and liquid to survive. It eats Water and Drinks Bananas. The abiotic factors are water sand, light from the sun, Rocks, and grass. The Biotic factors are Snails, Otters, Banana Trees, Trees, and the other Cozaryious. Here is a photo of Cozaryious.