Carlsruhe Annexe

News..

This week we have definitely had our ‘Scientists Hats’ on for Science Week.

We collected water samples from the Campaspe River near Carlsruhe and then investigated the different types of macroinvertebrates (water bugs) that were living in it. We used magnifiers to look carefully at each creature and identification charts to determine the specific types of macroinvertebrates in the sample. From this we could work out the quality of the river water – which was very good.

We also completed our monthly water analysis testing as part of the River Detectives program. We tested the water for pH, turbidity (cloudiness), electro-conductivity (salt), reactive phosphorus and temperature. We found that even though the river had flooded over the footpath, the water quality was still very good. The results were then added to the online database for our area.

The Term 3 project – 'Comparing Countries' was introduced this week. Information about the project has been shared via Compass and the students have copied a sample of the format onto their netbooks.

Science Challenge - Name a star and planet

This year the International Astronomical Union has given Australia permission to name a star and the planet that orbits it. The planet we get to name is a gas giant, a little under half the size of Jupiter. Its current, rather boring name is HD 38283 b.

Our star was chosen because it is easily visible from the southern hemisphere, and because the planet that orbits it was discovered by Australian astronomer Chris Tinney, using the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Siding Spring, NSW.

Our science challenge this term is to come up with a new name for our Australian star and planet!

Your name needs to:

• Reflect the wide number of different people that call Australia home
• Be imaginative and fun
• Not be the name of anyone who has lived in the last 100 years
• Be part of the theme; for example the planets in our solar system are named after Roman gods. A theme is important because if more planets are discovered orbiting the star they can be given similar names.

Some theme ideas could be: food, sport, geographical features, music, art or anything else you can come up with!

Write your names down (illustrate them if you like!) and give them to your teacher by Wednesday 21st of August. The winners for F-2, 3-4, and 5-6 will be announced at assembly on Friday 23rd August.

If you really love your names and would like to enter them for serious consideration, you can submit your names at https://name-exoplanet.net.au/

Carlsruhe Teachers

Ann Ireland, Nathan Spilsted and Mark Condon