Science

from The Whinchat 2021-2022

Cross-Country

SCIENCE REPORT

WORDS BY Mr Mike Mallalieu, Head of Science

It has been a year of change for the Prep School Science Department. With Mrs Christian and Mr Allen moving on at the end of July 2021 we welcomed several new staff into the department, each bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to further enhance the already thriving Science Department.

Bringing science to life through experiments and demonstrations always enhances engagement, improves understanding and ensures the lessons are memorable – and Y8’s recent biology lessons with Mr Mason offered all of the above.

After learning about the digestive system in class, it was time for a brilliant demonstration – in this case, a highly visual, fun demonstration of the process of digestion that was also a little bit gross!

Using everyday household items, such as tights and drinks bottles, and foods, such as soup, crisps, and Weetabix, Mr Mason helped the boys visualise how foods pass through the mouth and oesophagus before being broken down by stomach acid. They then looked at the enzymes involved and observed how food and liquid are absorbed in the small and large intestine before being excreted from the body.

It was wonderfully “disgusting” to quote the boys, but highly memorable!

After a year’s hiatus, we managed to have three Year 7 Planetarium and Observatory visits hosted by Linton Guise and Phil Stone in November and December and a further three in January, primarily put on for Year 8 boys who had missed out in 2020.

The Spring Term saw Year 5 enjoy the return of their sleepover visit to the Science Museum in London and Year 7 visited the National Space Centre in Leicester.

The Summer Term saw the Prep School boys treated a number of Science lectures delivered by our Lower 6th form students.

Antonino Muffoletto spoke about whether mRNA vaccine momentum can propel tumour immunotherapies; Shayaan Jadoon gave an insightful talk into Regenerative Medicine; and Varun Nathan spoke about Muscles and Citrulline Malate.

After 23 glorious years, Mr Mallalieu is stepping down from Head of Prep School Science at the end of the Summer Term, and Mr Mason will take on the role as the new Head of the department.