Science
National Science Week
National Science Week was another highlight of the term, providing students with opportunities to celebrate and engage with science in a variety of exciting ways. Across the week, students participated in special activities that encouraged curiosity, problem-solving and scientific thinking. The celebrations culminated in our Science Expo, where students explored interactive displays, investigated scientific concepts and shared in the excitement of learning with peers and families. It was wonderful to see students confidently discussing their ideas, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating the enthusiasm for science that continues to grow across our school.
Chemical Sciences
As we reach the end of another fantastic term, students across the school have continued to develop their scientific thinking through hands-on investigations, experiments and discussions. Throughout the term, students have explored how materials change, how mixtures behave, and how scientists use observations and evidence to explain the world around them. It has been wonderful to see students demonstrating curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and applying their learning to real-world situations.
Prep
Our Prep students explored different mixtures and investigated whether substances dissolve or remain undissolved when combined with water or other liquids. They enjoyed making predictions, observing changes and sharing their findings using scientific language.
Level 1
Level 1 students became environmental scientists by investigating paper recycling. Students followed a procedure to recycle used paper by soaking, pulping and drying it to create new sheets of recycled paper. They then compared the properties of recycled paper and copy paper, discussing the advantages and benefits of each material and considering how recycling helps care for our environment.
Level 2
Level 2 students extended their learning by investigating a wider range of mixtures and carefully observing what happened to substances when combined. They compared mixtures that dissolved completely with those that remained visible, recording their observations and explaining the differences between dissolving and non-dissolving materials.
Level 3
Level 3 students completed their bread preservation investigation, testing different materials to determine which would keep bread fresh for the longest period of time. By observing changes over several weeks, students gathered evidence about mould growth (or lack thereof due to the cool temperatures) and moisture retention, helping them identify the most effective storage methods for keeping bread fresh.
Level 4
Level 4 students investigated changes of state by exploring how materials change between solids, liquids and gases. They examined how adding heat can cause substances to change from solid to liquid to gas, and how removing heat reverses these changes from gas to liquid and liquid to solid.
Level 5
Level 5 students explored reversible and irreversible changes, discovering that even the same substance can undergo different types of changes. Through investigations involving sugar, students compared dissolving and evaporating sugar with caramelising sugar, explaining why some changes can be reversed while others cannot.
Level 6
Level 6 students investigated mixtures and solutions at the particle level. They compared what happens to particles when substances dissolve and when they do not dissolve, using particle models to explain their observations and deepen their understanding of how matter behaves.
Term 4 - Earth and Space Sciences
As we look ahead to Term 4, students will begin exploring the exciting fields of Earth and Space Sciences. Across the school, students will investigate topics such as weather, natural processes, changes to Earth's surface, our solar system and the wider universe. These learning experiences will encourage students to connect their scientific understanding to the world around them while developing a greater appreciation of our planet and its place in space.
We wish all students and families a wonderful holiday break and thank you for your continued support throughout the term. We look forward to another exciting term of learning and discovery in Science and STEM when we return for Term 4.