inflating learning in science club today

It was back to the labs for Year 7 Science Club today after some outdoor learning last week, and this lunchtime they were enriching their knowledge of the respiration process with a fun but practical chemistry session designed to inspire them to flex their investigative skills.

Our scientists were tasked with making their own choice of container, be it conical or volumetric flask, and a funnel, and to decide themselves on quantities and measurements of yeast, sugar, and hot water.

The challenge was to investigate which compound would cause the balloons to inflate the most.

The scientists stretched their balloons over their containers of choice:

And they learnt that as the yeast produces carbon dioxide ...

then the gas begins to inflate the balloon.

There were some epic outcomes as you can see, and by late afternoon the winning yeast balloons were displayed in all their glory:

Really well done all for your participation in another great scientific extracurricular opportunity, with huge thanks to Mrs Walsh and Dr Bethell for organising and facilitating today's session.

We can't wait to see what experiments next week brings for Year 7 Science Club!