July 2008 - Littleover Community School

The Science Learning Centre
On Tuesday 20 th of May, Hugo von Fragstein, Calvin
Luu, Ruth Hainsworth and Lizzie Dyg went along
with Mr Pollard to Nottingham University. During
the day we did an investigation, an experiment and
then a debate.
In the investigation we had a list of 27 cases of food
poisoning in a town called Healthem; we also had a
list of 19 different forms of food poisoning. We then
had to find out from the cases what form of food
poisoning it was (all of the cases had the same
form). We were the first team, out of 9, to find out
the answer.(Mr Pollard was not with us). In the experiment we had to
measure the rate of photosynthesis taking place in 30 Algae balls,
depending on the intensity of light.
The experiment was very long so to
make it even more exciting, I (Hugo
von Fragstein) started to play about
with the remaining Algae balls.
Putting UI and a couple of hundred balls in a spare petri dish, I simplified
the experiment and made the change in colour more evident. The man
running the course was so pleased, he told other schools to come and
have a look.
After lunch, the different school groups changed teachers and we had to
debate a matter, which had already
been chosen for us (For/Against
Nanotechnology and For/Against
Nuclear Energy). We chose Against
Nanotechnology. At the end of the
debate the remaining groups then
had to take a side on which they
agreed with the most. Only four
people voted For Nanotechnology,
which once again, meant that we won.
Overall all four of us where very happy with the day’s events and what we
had done, though we thought the practical experiment could have been a
bit quicker.
By Hugo von Fragstein—Year 9 Pupil