Science
Science Week
Seeing our school community get behind National Science Week this term has been fantastic, and it is safe to say that Wantirna College has a serious passion for STEM. It is one thing to talk about science in the classroom but watching everyone actively participate in our lunchtime events has been exceptional.
Throughout the week, we ran a variety of hands-on activities that really captured everyone's attention. On Tuesday lunchtime, we kicked things off in room C2 by turning lemons and potatoes into working batteries.
Wednesday brought everyone together in C3 to watch a screening of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with friends, and Thursday featured a fascinating look at spherification* and the science behind popping boba pearls.
*Editor's note: I had to look this up, so in case you also didn't know, spherification is a modernist cooking technique that shapes flavored liquids into delicate, gel-filled spheres that burst with flavor when eaten.
The undisputed crowd favourite, however, was our Friday lunchtime slime workshop in room C1. The turnout was massive with so many students packing out the room to get their hands dirty, mix up their own concoctions, and take part in the fun. Watching everyone get creative and genuinely enjoy themselves proved just how popular practical science is at our school.
We also used these sessions as an important opportunity to gather student voice, collecting valuable feedback and ideas from everyone relating to science programs and facilities in the school. Thank you to everyone who got involved, experimented, and shared their thoughts.
Ritkriti Melam & Lauryn Goh
STEM Captains
Year 9 Waves & Light
Our Year 9 students have been exploring the fascinating world of waves and light, investigating how these phenomena help us understand and interact with the world around us.
Students have explored key wave properties, the behaviour of light, and how the human eye detects and processes light to allow us to see.
To bring their learning to life, students recently completed an eye dissection practical, giving them the opportunity to observe the structures of the eye first-hand.
They identified key structures and considered how each part contributes to the process of vision.
The practical provided a memorable, hands-on experience and helped students connect classroom concepts about light, lenses and vision with real biological structures.
Students demonstrated curiosity, careful observation and scientific investigation skills throughout the activity.
Take a look at some photos from our Year 9 scientists in action!
Ozlem Alpcan & Tina Goh
Science
Year 11 Biology
On Tuesday, the three Year 11 Biology classes went on an excursion to collect field data for their area of study 2 SAC. The first stop was the Melbourne Aquarium.
Students recorded data about various plants and animals on display, including their reproductive behaviors, adaptations for survival, and the different habitats and ecosystems on display.
Students were excited to meet the resident saltwater crocodile, Coowonga, and the internet famous King Pengiun, Pesto, along with various jelly fish, sea dragon and horses and the predators of the deep.
After lunch, a quick trip through the royal botanical gardens, students observed various indigenous plants and will apply their understanding of the use of the features of these plants by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders.
Ricky Strange, Ozlam Alpcan
& Peter Kos
Science