Deputy News: Topic Learning
Science and Engineering at St Joseph's
This term, our students throughout the school have been engaging in rich, hands-on learning across the Victorian Curriculum areas of Earth and Space Sciences and Design and Technologies. Students have been investigating fascinating concepts such as the movement of the Earth, Moon and Sun, the impact of natural events like earthquakes and bushfires, and how scientific knowledge helps us understand and care for our planet. Alongside this, students will take on real-world design challenges that encourage them to create, test and evaluate solutions to environmental and technological problems.
This week at St Joseph’s, we were fortunate to welcome two parents, Jess and Susan, who generously shared their expertise as engineers with our middle-school students. Before beginning their own design projects, students had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the roles and responsibilities Jess and Susan take on in their work. Their insights provided valuable context and inspiration, helping students see how the skills they are developing in class connect to real-world challenges and careers.
Having real-life experts speak to school children helps bring learning to life by showing how knowledge and skills are used in the real world. It makes classroom lessons feel more relevant and authentic, answering the question many students have about why they are learning something. Experts also open children’s eyes to a wide range of careers and pathways they may not have considered, inspiring curiosity and motivation through their stories and experiences.
Meeting passionate role models gives students the chance to imagine themselves in different futures and can help break down stereotypes about who can succeed in certain fields. It also encourages children to ask questions, think critically, and build confidence in their own abilities. By connecting schools with community professionals, these visits strengthen the link between education and the wider world, showing students that what they learn has meaning and value beyond the classroom.
Following this inspiring session, our middle-school students began their Earth and Space Science projects, where they are working in teams to tackle real-world environmental challenges faced by different cultures around the globe. The three projects are:
Floating Garden Challenge: How to grow produce in flood-affected areas of Bangladesh.
Beat the Flood: Designing a house that can survive the flood plains in Vanuatu.
Regreen the Desert: Helping families in Sudan turn desert land into fertile ground.
In Term Four, our students from Prep to Year Six will be exploring Chemical Sciences, with a focus on changing states of matter and the properties of materials. Our middle and senior students will be using Makey-Makey devices to investigate these properties and then apply their knowledge to design and create products for specific audiences. To enrich this learning, we are once again inviting parents or family members who work in science, engineering, or STEM-related professions to volunteer as guest speakers.
We extend our sincere thanks to Jess and Susan for giving their time and expertise. Their inspiring presentation has set our students on an exciting path, and we look forward to seeing the creative solutions they develop in the weeks ahead.
Tom Hartney
Deputy Principal and Teaching and Learning Leader