Science Education
“Argumentation is a hallmark of the practicing scientist and engineer and is essential to justifying ones’ explanation.”
The practice of critical discourse in science classrooms.
By Kenneth L. Huff and Roger W. Bybee
🖥 STEM Job of the fortnight
Software Engineer
Software engineers use principles of computer science, engineering, design, management, psychology, sociology, and other disciplines to design and manage large software systems.
🍞 Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs
I am blown away by the efforts of so many St Raphael's students who compassionately collected the many bread tags that have now filled our container. The tags are recycled locally, raising funds to buy wheelchairs for vulnerable people in South Africa. As a school community, we are contributing to the wonderful statistics below:
RECYCLE TALLY:
2,255kg of Aussie bread tags recycled to date
CURRENT RECYCLING RATE:
150kg of bread tags/month
There are various collection points around Australia and quite a few close to St Raphael's. I would like to extend the invitation to a family who would like to drop off our bread tags at a collection point this term. This is a great opportunity for the families who tirelessly collected the many bread tags over the last 12 months. Please contact me via email (pluna@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au) if you would like to take up this opportunity with your children.
Below is a list of collection points:
- Greensborough: Greenhills Neighbourhood house
- Northcote: Batman Park Kindergarten
- Coburg North: Cara Joseph (address to be advised)
Thanks again for helping to contribute to a more sustainable future and to help fund wheelchairs for vulnerable South African communities.
🎩 Foundation: That's my hat!
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES What if it is wet? |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to test and investigate the effect of water on different materials. |
Success Criteria | Students can make claims about the effect of rain (water) on their decorated party hat. |
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES Sun safety |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to classify materials based on the shadows they make. |
Success Criteria | Students can identify materials that might be useful for hats worn on sunny days. |
🥣 Year 1/2: All Mixed Up
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES Sometimes Slimy |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to work in teams to explore what happens when water is mixed with cornflour. |
Success Criteria | Students can discuss and compare investigation observations and identify that the properties of mixtures can depend on the quantities of materials used. |
📏 Year 3/4: Investigating Materials
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES Which material is best? |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to predict what will happen to a material when it is scrunched, stretched, and torn. |
Success Criteria | Students can create a table showing their predictions, a series of notes and images created during their investigation, and a paragraph explaining what their claim is based on their investigation. |
| CHEMICAL SCIENCES How far can it stretch? |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to complete a fair test investigation on 3 stretchy materials. |
Success Criteria | Students can complete a table showing their predictions, a series of notes and images, taken during their investigation, a data table and graph representing the numerical results of their investigation, and a paragraph explaining what the claim is based on their investigation. |
💡 🔬Year 5/6: Circuits and Microscopes
| PHYSICAL SCIENCES Conductors and insulators |
Learning Intention | Students will be able to explore open and complete/closed circuits using Circuit Scribe kits. |
Success Criteria | Students can use Circuit Scribe kits and common household items to determine which materials are conductors and which are insulators. |
| BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Introduction to microscopy |
| Learning Intention | Students will be able to use and explore the parts of a light microscope. |
| Success Criteria | Students can draw and label a specimen that they view under a light microscope, including the calculation of magnification. |
❄️ Delivering milk bottles to school!
A big thank you to all the students who have been collecting milk bottles. Students can deliver all their clean milk bottles to the STEM/Music space during the remainder of term 4. We will aim to build the Igloo during term 1 2021.
Please ensure all milk bottles and lids are thoroughly washed with detergent.
📧 Contact Details
Patty Luna: pluna@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au
Please note, I will respond to emails Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.