Q&A - P3 Science

[Puffer]

Hi, DS just got back his Science paper today. I would appreciate clarification on the following question:


Q: Give 2 similarities between the platypus and the seal (2 marks)

DS' answer to the above:

(i) Both breathe through lungs.
(ii) Both look after their young.

(i) was marked correct but (ii) marked as wrong. Reason from FT is that platypuses don't look after their young. I thought all mammals look after their young?

Other classmates' answer: Both suckle their young was also marked wrong.

[rains]

Puffer:

Hi, DS just got back his Science paper today. I would appreciate clarification on the following question:


Q: Give 2 similarities between the platypus and the seal (2 marks)

DS' answer to the above:

(i) Both breathe through lungs.
(ii) Both look after their young.

(i) was marked correct but (ii) marked as wrong. Reason from FT is that platypuses don't look after their young. I thought all mammals look after their young?

Other classmates' answer: Both suckle their young was also marked wrong.

These two animals are mammals, so you need to list the characteristics of mammals eg. Both are covered with fur/ Both feed their young with milk. These answers are more specific and definite.

[Muffins]

rains:

But the teacher herself or himself also never put 'over flame' leh.


You mean 'heated' is still not clear ah? 'Heated' - of course is over flame lah, then over ice meh?

Hi,

Heated doesn't necessarily mean over flame. It could mean, over a very hot surface, or something that has just been heated. SO MANY DIFFERENT METHODS, SO CONFUSING WAN! :oops:

[lnk]

tianzhu:

Hi VC


Air is a matter with no fixed volume and no fixed shape. It compresses or expands to take the shape of the container holding it.
Yes the WS’s answer is correct.

You are right that air has no fixed volume and no fixed shape and therefore take after the shape and volume of the container. That is if the container is rigid enough.

When air is taken out of the ball, the amount of air inside decreases and therefore the pressure inside the ball decreases as well. The air in the atmosphere will then push the ball in and thus lowering the volume of the ball until such a state where the pressure in the ball is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere.

Therefore the WS's answer is incorrect.

[lnk]

Full.Cream:

1stly, if they say 'apple', it's almost always a standalone apple. It wld be very cheeky to insist that the apple is still on the tree.


Eg, if there's a science qn on which of these (chick, puppy, tadpole) hatch from egg, we don't try to be funny and ask what if the egg is not fertilized, ya?

Is part of living thing a living thing. We are living thing, is our nail living thing. We are living thing, but when we die what are we. So must we say that living human is a living thing? It gets more and more cumbersome as it goes.

From a science question, it becomes a philosophical discourse.

By definition, living thing can grow, respire, reproduce.

Asking the question is seed a living thing, is like asking if an embryo is a baby. Of course it is a living thing, it respire and grow eventually reproduce.

Conclusion, the question is not well thought of, the writer of the question did not pay too much attention in crafting it and therefore do not require too much of our attention as well.

[starlight1968sg]

I have not been following this thread closely.


A fruit should be considered a living thing because under certain conditions, it grows, reproduces and dies.

I think our nail is not really a living thing. It is made up of dead cells. Änother example will be our hair.

Can any Science teacher confirm?

[cluelessmom]

tianzhu:

atutor2001:

What about the seeds in the apple. Are they living things?

Hi atutor2001

Some interesting articles on seeds.

http://infopedia.nl.sg/Research/opendoc.aspx?doc=pls/pf_ie_is%20a%20seed%20a%20living%20thing_08.pdf

Best wishes

Extracts from the article:
Is a seed a living thing?
A seed is not exactly a living thing, though it maintains the potential to become alive

Wah piang, so is a seed living or non-living thing? :stupid:

[tutormum]

starlight1968sg:

I have not been following this thread closely.


A fruit should be considered a living thing because under certain conditions, it grows, reproduces and dies.

I think our nail is not really a living thing. It is made up of dead cells. Änother example will be our hair.

Can any Science teacher confirm?

A thing is classified as a living thing if it meets the following conditions:
1. It can move by itself.
2. It can grow, reproduce and die.
3. It respond to changes or stimuli.
4. It needs air, food and water to survive.

An apple is no longer considered a living thing once it is pluck from the tree as it will not be capable to meet the above criteria. Nails and hair will be classified under non-living things that are once alive as they are made up of dead cells.

[she0407]

The school requires us to buy P3/P4 cycle & energy science textbook for next year. Can anyone advises me if the school will continue to touch on diversity, system and interaction?


If I want to teach my son in advance, which topic should I start first?
:roll:
Any mummy or daddy can advise me?

Thank you very much.

[Hifive]

Hi she0407


My ds school taught cycle first and then followed by energy. P3 syllabus for Science will still be tested in P4.

Regards