7/8 Science
Whenever I watch American movies, there's something I'm a little bit jealous about; this wonderful thing called a "Science Fair". The Years 7 and 8 students are currently developing their presentations for our very own Preshil Science Fair. These presentations, and the work that goes into them, will be the major assessment for the term.
The first step is to develop a question, based on what the student finds interesting, and what is of global significance. In my Year 7 class alone, there are amazing questions currently being asked about:
o the impact of snorkelling on coral reefs
o the limits on how small a computer can get
o the sustainability of paper books.
Step two is research. Some students might narrow down their ideas, others might broaden them. Some might change tack entirely depending on the research they find. This flexibility is really important for their future studies.
Step three is the presentation itself. The format is up to them, but posters, models, videos and slideshows seem to be popular and these will be presented later in the year to the other classes.
This project is demonstrating how deeply our students care about the world they live in and how they ask questions about that world and our practices in it. It’s been heartening to see the interactions between our students as they've developed their questions, and I'm really enjoying seeing them engaging with Science in a way they can connect to their lives and environments.
Amy Byrne
teacher of Years 7 & 8 Science