Science in Year 5

This week, Year 5 have been busy becoming young scientists as they explored the Mohs Scale of Hardness – a special way of comparing how hard different materials are.
The children learned that hardness can be tested by using a scratch test. If one material can scratch another, it means it is harder. If it cannot, then it is softer. By comparing which materials can scratch others, scientists can work out where they belong on the hardness scale.
After learning about the theory, Year 5 carried out their own scratch tests in class. Working carefully, they tested a range of materials against each other to see which were harder and which were softer. They then recorded their observations in a table, just like real scientists would. This hands-on investigation helped them to understand how scientists use evidence to answer questions about the world around us.