On Tuesday 21st June, Emilia (5G), Sophie (5G), Eliza (5G), Xanthe (5R), Michael (5R) and Hugo (5R) took part in the King Edward’s Maths and Science Challenge Day. Accompanied by Miss Tyrell and Mr Unwin, the Barrow Hills team joined nine other local schools for a fun packed day.
The children took part in a fast-paced maths challenge where they had to whizz around and solve up to 40 different maths puzzles in teams of three. Next, science teacher Mr Fox, lead them through to a ‘crime scene’ under the watchful eye of a forensic scientist. There was various evidence to consider – a candlestick, handbag, spilled paint, a can of Coke and strands of red cord – in solving the ‘murder’ of Mr Fox’s friend and mentor, Professor Snuggles. The children shared their initial thoughts that the candlestick might be the murder weapon and that DNA evidence on the can of Coke may point to the murderer. Further evidence was revealed in the chemistry classroom, as blood spatters had been left at the crime scene and that CCTV had captured suspects who all, importantly, had differing heights. Using this information, the children were able to conduct blood spatter experiments at various different heights to find the killer.
In biology, they also had a crime to solve; the theft of an expensive ceremonial cup. Once again, the children were faced with a complex crime scene and evidence bags for each of the cartoon character suspects. A ransom note had been delivered and crucially, flowers were scattered at the crime scene. Using microscopes to compare pollen from different flowers and chromatography to analyse each of the suspects’ pens against the pen used by the author of the ransom note, the children were able to successfully identify the culprit.
Parents were invited to attend the final activity and everyone enjoyed a delicious high tea to finish off their day before heading back to Barrow Hills. Thank you to the Maths and Science Departments at King Edward’s who really pulled out all the stops to put on an incredible day for our children. And well done to the boys and girls for solving the crimes and puzzles with such committed teamwork.
