SCIENCE NEWS
Science in Action
As the term progresses, our Science classrooms have been buzzing with hands-on learning and scientific discovery across all year levels. Here’s a glimpse into what our students have been exploring:
Year 7
Our Year 7 students have been investigating different separation techniques and are currently working on their Depth Study assessment (due at the end of term). This task challenges them to design and carry out an investigation to separate a mixture of sand, salt, and iron filings. It’s a great opportunity for students to apply their scientific knowledge to a real-world scenario, developing their skills in planning, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Year 8
Year 8 recently wrapped up their unit on renewable and non-renewable energy. Some classes took part in a creative ‘cookie mining’ activity, simulating the challenges of balancing profit with environmental responsibility. Students have now moved on to the fascinating world of chemistry, where they are learning about the periodic table and investigating the properties of various elements. This learning will lead into their Practical Assessment Task in Week 9.
Year 9
This term, Year 9 students have been studying wave types, conducting experiments to explore the properties of sound, light, and heat. A highlight was their Practical Assessment Task that involved dissecting cow eyes (generously provided by Bindaree Beef). The activity was both memorable and educational, giving students the chance to connect classroom theory to real biological systems.
Year 10
Year 10 students have just completed their unit on motion, where they explored Newton’s Laws of Motion through a variety of engaging activities — including the launching of bottle rockets. They are now diving into Earth science, investigating tectonic plate movement and how it leads to natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This unit encourages students to think deeply about the dynamic nature of our planet.
Year 12 Biology
Our Year 12 Biology students are currently undertaking a Depth Study focused on non-infectious diseases. As part of this assessment, each student is researching a specific disease in detail—exploring its causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. The task goes beyond research, as students must also design a public health resource aimed at educating individuals who may be at risk. This is an excellent opportunity for students to apply their scientific understanding in a meaningful way while developing their skills in communication, analysis, and health literacy.
Agriculture
Our Agriculture classes have been continuing to learn with hands-on activities. Year 9 have been looking into wool production and are currently redesigning the school farm into a sheep farm along with completing a practical assessment on pastures and soils, identifying different plants and understanding how chemicals work. Year 10 have just finished designing their own sets of cattle yards while completing a unit on cattle production. Students from both years have also participated in the Ross Hill School Farm Day and are looking forward to participating in a dog school early next term. Year 12 Agriculture are busily completing all their essential work for the HSC and are currently focusing on animal production, understanding the nutrition of animals, developing feed rations to ensure the growth and development of livestock is sustainable and to the betterment of the animal and farmer.
