Science
As you know, this week marks the first time in four months that we have all of our classes back on site. That means this is the first time in four months that our students can take part in practical activities in a lab setting. Of course we can always experiment in our homes, our back yards and even in our minds, but there is nothing quite like the lab experience!
Upon their return, our Year 7 students completed their remote learning topic of 'forces' by investigating the difference in the size of the force of friction on a number of surfaces; including carpet, cork, wood and on rollers. The Year 7 students are now busily exploring their new topic of mixtures. A lot of energy went into beating egg white the old fashioned way to make a colloid. A few pairs of eggbeaters didn’t survive the beating!
The Year 8 students return to school to explore physical and chemical changes through experiments. Our Year 10 students also commence their final topic of Chemical Reactions through practical work this week. The Year 9 students are building electric circuits to see how the theory they studied through remote learning time looks in real circuits.
We are saddened to finish formal classes with our Year 12 students this week, but are excited that they will soon be progressing to new and exciting pathways ahead.
On 19 October, we hosted a morning tea for the winners of the Science Week competitions in our remote learning time. The Year 12 STEM leaders presented certificates to our Top Scientist, Taylah Bell and our Top Engineer, Olivia Murphy. The runners up, Jorja Stahlut and Lucinda Smith, were also presented with their certificates, as were our Science Week Kahoot! winners. The students selected some science themed prizes. The periodic table lanyards and mugs were in most demand! The certificates and prizes have been a long time coming- we are grateful you have all waited so long!
Aussie Student Inventions Competition
Are you a budding inventor? Do you have an idea that could change lives? If so, you may be interested in entering the “Aussie Student Inventions” Competition. The competition has been organised by the team at Clickview, in conjunction with the producers of the series: “Aussie Inventions That Changed the World.” (To access this link, please use a student Kilbreda email to log in to Clickview).
What next?
All Australian school student inventors are invited to prepare an individual, team or class entry. Students of all ages have the chance to pitch their inventions to an expert panel. Inventions can be any type, size or functionality and solve any kind of problem. Concepts can be submitted in a two-part entry (short video with written report) via the ClickView website. If you are interested, please complete an entry, and share this with your science teacher, who would love to see it!
An incredible prize
The winner in each category will scoop a money-can’t-buy prize. They'll receive mentoring with our expert panel of judges, as well as cash, to help make the concept or prototype a reality: inventor Sally Dominguez, tech entrepreneur Evan Clark and physicist Niraj Lal.
Important dates
- Competition launches 19 October 2020
- Entries open 30 November 2020
- Entries close 17 December 2020
- Winners announced 1 February 2021
Jacinta Devlin
Learning Leader: Science