During Science Week, we carried out an exciting experiment where the children designed and built castles using different materials: paper, plastic, wood, and bricks. To test the strength of each castle, we used a hairdryer as a “dragon” to try and blow them down. The children observed how each material reacted to the strong wind and discussed which castles stayed standing the longest. They concluded that wood and bricks made the strongest castles. However, the discussion didn’t stop there. The children began to think about how dragons in stories breathe fire and realised that a wooden castle could easily burn down. This led to a discussion about real castles and how, over time, builders began using stronger, fire-resistant materials such as bricks and stone to protect against attacks and fires started by enemies. The experiment helped the children link their investigation to real-life history and understand how materials are chosen for safety and strength. 🏰🔥🧪
