Primary School Science Program

Shepparton High School is very proud to offer a unique science experience to our local Primary Schools.  This initiative aims to build relationships with the primary schools by engaging their students in real, relevant and motivating science curriculum and experiments performed using scientific equipment in a real laboratory at Shepparton High School.

This program builds a passion for science, within the students and prepares them for science as they embark on secondary science education in the future.

An exceptional response from the primary schools has allowed the program to be delivered not only to Grade 6 students but also Grade 5 students, from some schools.  

So far participating in the program are: 

Bourchier Street, Shepparton East, Grahamvale, Orrvale, St Georges Road and Guthrie Street Primary Schools.

Topics covered in the program include: Chemical science where students learn about safety in science, the States of Matter – encompassing various experiments such as analysing the states of matter, observing changes in state, making crystal geodes and observing the effects of liquid nitrogen, culminating in enjoying liquid nitrogen ice-cream to celebrate the end of term. 

Students will receive their Bunsen burner licence, learn about the scientific method and become competent in writing simple reports.  They will become familiar with equipment such as beakers, flasks, hot plates, stirring rods, balances, and USB microscopes.

Later in the year, they will look at some Biological, Physical and Earth Science. A website has been set up to allow the primary teachers to reinforce ideas and continue with worksheets.

The following photographs illustrate some of the techniques the students employed to make crystal geodes.

Julie Natalizio

Science Teacher