Science Week 2019
Week 4 this term students and staff celebrated all things science with Science Week 2019.
Celebrations started in the weeks before this with classes participating in numerous Science Week related activities. In keeping with the theme for Science Week 2019 of Destination Moon: More missions, more science, two Year 9 classes created Luna Models out of metal. These models were then displayed at the staff morning tea during Science Week. This fantastic morning tea, put on by the Laboratory Technicians, raised $200.00 for Cure Brain Cancer.
Year 7 and 8 AEP and Enrichment classes were visited by a representative from Murdoch University who invited them to participate in the Periodic Table Art Project. In celebration of the Year of the Periodic Table, Murdoch University worked in conjunction with local high schools to create art based pieces featuring each element. Year 7 students created artwork for the element Iron and Year 8's for the element Aluminium. Congratulations to Year 8 students Holly R and Caitlyn D for winning the Aluminium artwork competition and the two Year 7 teams consisting of Eva R, Grace M, Hannah B, Jessica N, Niyati N and Joanne Z for being dual-winners of the Iron artwork competition.
On Monday 12 August students from local primary schools were invited to attend a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) Masterclass at the College. They participated in a range of experiments including Float Your Boat, Towers of Hanoi, Building and testing Catapults, creating a Cola Fountain out of cola and Mentos and the Helter Skelter Shelter.
Science Week concluded with select male students from Years 7 to 10 participating in the STEM Masterclass. Students planned, designed and created a floor maze for the Sphero bot which was then programmed through an app on their phone to complete this maze. Students absolutely enjoyed this project and were all very persistent to solve the problem at hand.
The Makey Makey activity allowed students to create a 'Who wants to be a STEMonnaire' game. Each group came up with a selection of questions to solve. Questions came from various Learning Areas including solving a mathematical problem, answering a Historical question and Geography facts. The group then put down their five questions on different paper and attached conductive tape around each multiple choice answer. They programmed the Makey Makey and attached alligator clips to the conductive tape, challenging other groups by giving them a 20 second time space to think and answer the question.
The final activity was Lego Mindstorms, a software platform used for the development of programmable robots. Students carefully planned, designed and researched a variety of modular sensors and motors, then programed their robot to complete a 'follow the line' activity. Students were very motivated to create this mechanical system and persisted to solve the problem until the very end. We witnessed great teamwork across multiple year groups in this activity as Year 8 students communicated with Year 10 students to solve the given problem.
Matt and Chloe from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) visited to explain requirements for entering the ADF. They also talked about the importance of STEM learning to be granted such unique and privileged career opportunities.
Student also received a visit from ECU's Professor Mark Hackling who presented the various careers students could undertake using the STEM skills they are learning at school including how these skills would assist students in obtaining a cognitive, non-routine job. These jobs are progressively increasing compared to routine, manual jobs. Students were very attentive during this session and asked some thoughtful questions.
