Science

Teachers at Marian are engaged in developing numeracy activities for our students to improve the understanding of how maths is related at all aspects of our daily learning. I was so very impressed with the quality of activities developed by the science teachers and the teachers from other faculties when we shared our ideas in the recent Wednesday meeting.  

We have all done a fantastic job of lifting the literacy of our students with extraordinary thinking, planning and focus on literacy in the classroom. The HSC results show this dedication to learning here at Marian. It is now time for the same approach with numeracy and it is going very well indeed. 

The Year 12 Biology class are working on an assessment task. They have to show that they understand the body processes in the cell cycle and have enjoyed the activity where they made some amino acid models and joined them showing the development of the polypeptides during translation. They are enjoying their deep immersion into the challenging understanding of how nature works its miracles. 

Year 9 is considering the science of global warming and the political response to what the scientists warn is going to be catastrophic if we don’t make changes to the way we use resources. Hopefully, this younger generation will make good decisions with accurate scientific evidence and responsible solutions. 

Year 9 will now turn their heads skywards to explore the universe.

Year 8 has been busy with chemistry.  Our laboratory technician, Mrs McIntosh, has been ill for the last few weeks so we wish her a very quick recovery and an even sooner return. We are desperate for some interesting pracs with acids and bases from the kitchen along with other dramatic reactions of oxidation and combustion reactions.  

Year 7 has moved into chemistry as well for the last unit of work for 2024. They have been looking at solutions and other mixtures. Luckily, we have Mrs Angela Geddes on board in the prep room for Thursdays and Fridays to get the materials ready for the classes to experiment and we look forward to Mrs McIntosh’s return.  

Miss Ammendolia here!

Year 8 Science has been on fire – literally! Students have been getting up close and personal with chemical reactions, and let’s just say, things have been a little too hot to handle in class. Armed with safety goggles and a healthy dose of curiosity, they've been conducting a series of hands-on practical experiments where they are observing vibrant reactions, and discovering the principles behind combustion, decomposition, synthesis and displacement reactions or in other words lighting materials on fire and watching them fizz, pop, and change colour in ways that would make any mad scientist jealous. 

Mrs Morrison reporting for year 10!

Some Year 10 students are coming to the end of their learning journey of Science at MCC and are finishing off by learning about all the Invisible Waves in their lives. The Invisible Waves topic has included different ways heat is transferred, sound waves, light waves and how the body interprets the information. This week some students explored convection currents through creating their own hot air balloons. Students used a hair dryer as the hot air which made their hot air balloons fly. I have never seen the students so excited and amazed at a balloon whirling around the room!

It is certainly a vibrant department of learning with lots going on and some very busy students and teachers!

Best wishes

Esther Dumbleton (Science Leader of Learning)