Growth and Decay

The children have been looking at the changes the food has made over time. The bread is starting to go mouldy, the apple is turning brown, the orange is growing white mould and the potatoes are growing sprouts. The children are being encouraged to observe and talk about these changes.

 Why not try some of your own simple experiments at home to promote children's understanding of change and communication skills:


Cook an Egg - children can observe it in it's raw form then see how it changes when u hard boil it, fry it, poach it or even scramble it.

Melt Chocolate - Using either the traditional way of melting it over the pan or putting it in the microwave, children can observe how it changes from a solid to a liquid.

Make Jelly- a great way for children to observe change and talk about solids and liquids. Children can observe jelly changing from a solid to a liquid and back to a solid again. You could also compare experiments. Pour boiling water on some jelly and cold water on some. What is the difference. Place a jelly in the fridge to set and leave one on the side, do they both set? What is the difference?

Make Toast - talk about the differences between bread and toast, toast it for various lengths of time, what are the differences and changes. Make toast in different ways, in the toast, under the grill, maybe even fry it.

Have a play around with your own changing ideas and have lots of fun. Send any photos to a.halstead@starysblackburn.ac.uk and we will put them in your child's learning journal.