"The keyboard"

Testing for Protein

The Biuret test

Aim:
To test if a sample of food contains protein.

Equipment:
- Test tube
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Copper sulfate
- Food sample

Method:
1. Place about 2 mL of the sample into a test tube and add 5 drops of sodium hydroxide.
2. Add 5 drops of copper sulfate.
3. Shake the test tube gently from side to side.

Results that may happen:
If the solution remains blue, then no protein is present. If the solution changes to a violet colour then protein is present in the sample.

Conclusion/discussion/Results:
Our first experiment failed due to too much milk. Second try also failed, even we heated it. If it had any protein it should've changed colour from blue to violet. By adding sodium hydroxide and copper sulfate, the sample turned to blue colour. After shaking the sample it changes colour, it means it has protein.

Testing for simple and complex sugars

The Benedicts test 

(Simple sugar test)
Aim: To test a sample of food determine whether it contains simple sugars.
Method:
1. Place about 2 mL of the sample into a test tube and then add 5 drops of Benedict' Solution.
2. Heat with a bunsen until it changes colour. Do not Boil

Results: A positive test for a simple sugar results in the Benedict's Solution changing from a blue colour to a orange colour.
No colour change is a negative result.

Discussion/Conclusion:
If the benedict changes colour it means that the food sample was a simple sugar. If it's not a simple sugar the benedict would stay the same colour.
We tested the sample and it turned what we had in our mind. It contained the simple sugar.
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(Complex Sugar test)
Aim: To test if a sample of food contains complex sugars.
Method:
1. Place about 2 mL of the sample in a test tube.
2. Add 3-5 drops of iodine and mix.

Results: If comlex sugar (Ex: Starch) are present the Iodine solution will change from a brown colour to blue/black colour. If the iodine solution does not change colour then no complex sugars are present.

Discussion/Conclusion:
If the iodine changes colour it means the sample contained complex sugar. If it stayed the same it doesn't contain any complex sugar. We tested the sample and it turned what we had in our mind. It contained the complex sugar.

Social studies - After The Test.

Today we get to see our test results. We had to wait until our name are called out. My legs became trembling when my name was called out in the front. I started walking slowly and the teacher started talking to me. She talked about what I did well and what I didn't do well. For my mapping, I had a good title but my key colour was so off. For my graphing all was good but it needs to be tidied up and my gaps needs to be considered from the same length. Lastly, for my 2 S.E.E.L paragraph, I needed to explain what each branch does so basically I needed more detail. I will study these mistakes so next time I get a better score.

KiwiBaker Last Season

For the last two weeks we have been planning to make our own baking product. We had to choose from our previous cooking products. We get to modify the recipe and after cooking it for the first time, we noticed that we made some mistakes so the next time we make it again we will have no problems.

My group has chosen to make a cookie and we made some changes from the recipe.

I like how our cookies were massive and you didn't have to press the fork down to make it big.

After we baked our cookies for the first time, we noticed that we needed to melt the butter first before putting it in. So we melted the butter first before putting it in with the other ingredients.

Mostly, I learnt that you need to be more careful when mixing it. I also learnt that you didn't have to exactly follow the recipe. I really enjoyed this season of cooking because I get to learn some precise skill at cooking such as melting the butter first, and sometimes the recipe might be wrong so you don't have to follow it all the time.

"Endemic New Zealand birds"

Native birds have been around New Zealand for over 700 years. One of the native birds represents the people of New Zealand, which is the Kiwi and it means “hidden bird”. There are other native birds that represents other special meanings, such as Kea, Ruru, and the Haast Eagle.

Kea is the smartest bird in the world. It is smart as a toddler, it could open your bag and it would try to steal things. The keas have wonderful feathers, including reddish-orange in their underside on their wings and the tail. The kea mainly nest within native forest. Their habitat includes all types of native forest, Sub-alpine scrub, Tussock and herb-field.The Keas population is decreasing but we could help them by having breeding programs like at WillowBank. 

Ruru is one of a kind, it is also known as the Morepork, it is the only surviving native owl in New Zealand. Morepork is Nocturnal so it only hunts at night and mostly sleep day. Morepork eat insects, small mammals and birds. Ruru is commonly found in rainforest to desserts. They have acute hearing, are sensitive to light and almost soundless in flight.

Haast Eagle are one of the only predators before humans came. This species was known as the largest eagle to have existed. Haast Eagle size is massive, this explains how it could weigh more than 230 Kg. The diet of this eagle is mostly the also extinct flightless Moa. The cause of this Species was human settlers in New Zealand. Eventually hunting them to extinction by around 1400. The loss of its primary prey caused the Haast's eagle to become extinct at about the same time.

Overall, we should protect the ones who are still surviving. Such as Weka, Kiwi, Kea, Grey Duck and many more. We should help the breeding programmes, who are relatively to WillowBank. 

These are some pictures from our trip.