Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

From Seed to Snack

Technology(Production & Process)
From Seed2Snack


What is a flow Chart?
In a flow chart items are organized in a sequence.
Flow charts have different uses:

They may be a chain of cause and effect, explaining a process (e.g.a popcorn seed to a popcorn snack)
They may organise past events in a time sequence, recounting what happened.
They may show a series of steps, forming instructions.
They may be a sequence of reasons,in an argument.

Many flow charts are combinations of chains, forks, and loops.

Why use flow charts in the classroom?

To plan an explanation, a procedure (instructions), a recount (such as a news story), a narrative, or an argument.
To summarise an explanation, a procedure, a recount, a narrative, or an argument.
Examples of topics that suit flow charts include the water cycle, life cycles, how products are made, where a certain food comes from, preparation for a debate, how machines work, and so on. Flow charts are one of the most useful visual texts in the classroom.

We looked at 3 types of flowcharts...
Cyclic
Forked
Linear
Today we used a linear flowchart to show how the popcorn is produced, from seed to snack

Monday, October 19, 2009

BIG Ideas about Popcorn


  • Kernels contain starch and moisture

  • When you heat the kernels, a change of state happens, in which the moisture changes into steam-this is a physical change

  • The popping of popcorn is actually a small explosion which occurs when the pressure of the steam is so intense it bursts the tough outer coating of the kernel

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Diagram of Kernel


Popcorn


A popcorn kernel is actually a seed. Like other seeds, inside it has a tiny plant embryo (a life form in its earliest phase). The embryo is surrounded by soft, starchy material that would give the embryo energy for growing into a plant. A hard, glossy shell protects the outside of the seed.
The soft, starchy material holds some water. When the kernel is heated to a high heat (200c), the water inside the kernel turns into steam. The pressure from the steam causes the kernel to explode. The soft starch inside bursts out at about 40 times its original size, turning the kernel inside out. This creates the fluffy white area of a popped kernel.
The ideal popcorn kernel contains about 14 percent moisture. If the popcorn is much drier, it will not pop. Popcorn kernels should be kept in a tightly sealed jar so that they will not dry out.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Popcorn Inquiry

On Monday Maria Gill visited our school.  She is a New Zealand author and we have lots of her books in our school library.  We learned about native birds and their predators and how we need to look after our special NZ native birds.  She chose ten children to represent the predators and the native birds.  Visit her website at   http://www.mariagill.co.nz/

Watch out Birds!  Predators on the Hunt!
Maria Gill - Author
Evie with one of the Native Bird Puppets