Science

This term the Science Learning Area has been covering many areas across the different year levels. 

The Year 7 students have been learning all about the Science Lab and equipment. They have now moved on to the Chemistry Unit and are looking at all the different methods that can be used to separate substances. They will finish with a Student Agency task and will be given dirty water and the aim is to create clear water using all the different separation techniques they have learnt.

The Year 8 students have been working hard with the Chemistry topic and have leant about the differences between solids, liquids and gases and the particle molecules. They have then looked at Elements, what makes up an element and why they are pure. They explored the Periodic Table and how it works. The students are now looking at Physical and Chemical changes and have explored how to mix milk and vinegar together to make a polymer and in turn look at button making.

The Year 9 students have looked at the Physics Unit, the topic Electricity. The students have had the opportunity to look at how Electricity works, what is the difference between a Series and Parallel circuit. The students have had many demonstrations from the Van de Graaff showing static electricity, to using circuits and simulations. The students had the opportunities to make a lemon battery and then explore which fruit and vegetables can also be used to make a battery. As a group the students made a skill tester but had to work out how to design it and then connect the skill tester properly so that light and buzzer went off together when the circuit was connected.

The Year 10 students have been busy in either Biology or Chemistry. The Biology students have looked at components of cells, DNA and its code with transcription and translation. A practical was done where the students had the opportunity to extract DNA from fruit and see the strands with the naked eye. They then have had the opportunity to research a Genetic disease. The Chemistry students  have looked at types of reactions and the Periodic table. The students have completed experiments looking at reactivity of metals and flame tests.

Our VCE Science students have been well underway in completing areas necessary to address the Study Design in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology.

Melissa Robinson

Head of Science

Year 10 Biology

Genetics - Vegetable People

DNA Extraction from fruit

Year 10 Chemistry 

Year 9 Electricity

Year 8

Making plastic from milk