LEARNING MATTERS

YEAR 7 ELMS - SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT

For the past month our Year 7 ELMS students have been conducting in-depth investigations in an area of science they are passionate about as part of the Science Fair project.  These passions have produced an extremely broad range of fascinating topics, including how colour can affect our perceptions of taste and how electromagnetic radiation affects the growth of living organisms, to name only a few. 

The Science Fair, now in its second year, is an inquiry-based project designed to foster a love for scientific inquiry.  Inquiry based learning is about providing students with more autonomy and 

responsibility, with the aim of enhancing their learning through the promotion of their natural curiosity and enthusiasm.  It requires groups of students to test an idea, prediction or hypothesis and to draw accurate conclusions, utilising the skills they have been learning in Science.

The entire project takes place online, taking full advantage of the students’ Chromebooks.  The students create a Google presentation where they analyse and discuss their results as well as embed a two minute video summarising their experiment. Upon completion, these presentations will be uploaded to the Science Fair Google Site, allowing

students to share their work with the rest of the class, teachers and parents.

This project has allowed students to explore science, its uses and applications to the natural world.  With only a week to go, the students are putting the final touches to their presentations, excited to share their work with the school community.  They have worked tremendously well and shown incredible dedication to their research.  The Science Fair will go live on Monday 9 June so we invite everyone to have a look at the wonderful achievements of our Year 7 ELMS students. 

https://sites.google.com/a/mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au/7elms/

Cherie Marks - Professional Development Coordinator

Richard Long – Curriculum Coordinator