SCIENCE

ROAD TO ZERO @ THE MUSEUM

On Wednesday 13th November 9A, 9B, 9C and 9H travelled to the Melbourne Museum to take part in the interactive TAC workshop, ‘Road to Zero’. Students were able to understand the impact of road safety initiatives through interactive screens and virtual reality. In groups, they were able to test their knowledge of physics by creating and testing hypotheses by estimating the stopping distances of cars in different conditions. Students then had the opportunity to become town planners, creating the ideal roads and streets, testing some of the road safety initiatives.

Students were then able to spend some time getting involved with an interactive installation at the Road to Zero Experience Space. The installation included a virtual reality experience where students travelled in a car from 1970 to 2055, allowing them to immerse themselves in the changes to safety features in cars. There was also an elevator simulation that let them feel what it was like to drop from the 11th floor of the Royal Exhibition Centre, mimicking a crash at 100km/hr.

After lunch students were free to explore the ‘Gut Feelings’ exhibition, investigating the link between our microbes and our body. They also explored ‘The Mind’ exhibition that included an immersive sleep experience and historical psychiatric implements.

Michelle Sanders, Adam Taylor, and Sarah Sharpley – Year 9 Science Teachers

ROCK AND MINERAL INCURSION

Students from Year 8 were given a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of rocks. The team from VSSEC ‘rocked’ up with several different types of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks that needed identifying. 

Using a mind map key, students conducted several tests on the rocks to determine which type of rock they were working with. After scratch tests, microscopic analysis; and mineral comparisons, students were able to identify anything from schist to shale, conglomerate and sandstone. 

The hot weather in week 4 didn’t erode the student’s enthusiasm and hopefully, from the incursion, they have now cemented their understanding of some of the concepts from the Year 8 Geology unit.

Scott McDowell - Science teacher