Science and technology is mandatory for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In science and technology, students explore the natural and made worlds. They learn how to apply scientific and technological skills, knowledge and understanding across a broad range of contexts.
Science provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real world problems. The inquiry and skill-based nature of science opens doors to ideas and discoveries.
All teachers have two hours release from face-to-face teaching (RFF) each week to prepare lessons, assess and mark students’ work, and reflect on professional practice. During the time each week when their classroom teacher is not on class, Mrs Cansdale is teaching GPS students the new Science and Technology syllabus. As you will see from the following snapshot of what they have been up to so far this year, our students are very fortunate to be taught by someone so passionate about STEM subjects.
News from Science RFF
During Semester 1 we have explored many exciting aspects in Science and undertaken projects and competitions to enhance our understandings of our enquiries. Throughout the grades, students have brainstormed ideas, worked collaboratively, and thought creatively and critically to put learned theories into practice.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten learned how wool from sheep is used to create clothes for us to wear. It doesn’t hurt the sheep, but boy does it help keep us warm!
We learned about bush tucker and what can be eaten from the Australian bush. There are no meat pies on that menu, just witchetty grubs, wattle seeds and honey ants.
We watched a clip of how the people of Uganda built their huts and then tried to make models of our own.
We have rolled, slid, bounced and spun almost every item in Mrs Cansdale’s classroom to learn about these different ways that objects move. We loved learning that, if you soak it in vinegar, you can even make an egg bounce!
Stage 1
Stage 1 used our muscles to make cream into butter.
We grew a cress caterpillar to watch as our seeds grew to make him a fuzzy wuzzy caterpillar. We made Rube Goldberg Machines in order to feed a dog.
We tried our hand at pulley systems to help the Lighthouse Keeper to get his lunch.
Stage 2
Stage 2 grew a fabulous garden that produced a bountiful harvest. We then turned our fresh ingredients into super delicious rice paper rolls to eat. Yum!
We learned how Aboriginal people used plants to weave mats and baskets.
Our rollercoaster designs helped us to demonstrate an understanding of Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion.
We used magnetism as a non-contact force to guide a car through a maze. Did you know that opposites attract and like poles repel each other? We now do!
Stage 3
Stage 3 had an exciting Term 1 with our Vertical Garden Installation gaining a Highly Commended Award at the Hawkesbury Show! We worked so hard brainstorming themes, plant selection, research and designing effective watering systems.
We were fortunate to have two talented apiarists share how bee farms are managed and why bees are crucial to our environment. Did you know that in parts of China people have to hand pollinate the flowers? Let’s not take our bees for granted.
We have created arcade-style games that use electrical circuits. We had to understand how to design an electrical circuit as well as apply our knowledge of conductors and insulators. We were demonstrating an electrical transformation to light, movement or sound. Some of us combined light and sound or sound and movement together. These games were awesome fun!
