Pitch Sticks!

Some of the Year 5 children had been learning about ‘changing states of matter’ in their science class and we were asked if we had any activities that could support this learning. We thought it would be fun for the children to make some natural glue using tree resin, bees wax and charcoal which when melted and mixed together forms a glue called ‘pitch’. During the making process the children could see solids changing into liquids and then back again into a solid which then made a completely new material. The pitch was made by carefully measuring out different amounts of the ingredients and getting the children to experiment which combination made the strongest glue and how each ingredient changed the qualities of the glue. Once the glue had been made we then created the ‘pitchsticks’ as a way of storing and transporting the glue in order that it can be re-melted when ever it’s use was needed, our ancestors would have used this technique when fixing fletchings to arrows for example. It was great to hear and see the discussions the children had in order to work out what the perfect qualities were to make their pitch glue.