Science News

Term 3 Science Report

Another busy term and we have had some definite highlights. Week 4 was National Science Week. The theme for this year was ‘Destination Moon: more missions, more science’ designed to encourage students to use big picture thinking to solve problems and design new solutions through the lens of space exploration and research. Science students completed a series of challenges in their classes to celebrate this special week.

 

Year 7 and Stage 4 YAP students enjoyed the dry ice magic show staring Mr Silver and his sidekick Mrs Watkiss. Students enjoyed a visual display of dry ice while learning about matter changing states, density, the acidification of oceans and the impacts of temperature on living plant material.

Year 8 students completed the Marshmallow challenge where they had 20 minutes to build the tallest tower out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, 1m of tape and 1m of string. The tower had to be able to support a marshmallow on top of their tower. The students did a great job, with some students managing to build towers nearly 80cm high.

Year 9 had to construct a parachute from a garbage bag, 3m of string, a styrofoam cup and tape that can safely land with 50 ml of water. Congratulations to all the winners and those who participated in the challenges.

Year 10 students competed in groups to make a model of a roller coaster with 2m of rubber tubing attached to a large peg board and a marble. The winning group was the roller coaster design where the marble travelled the shortest distance after exiting the tubing. Students had to use their knowledge of kinetic and potential energy to meet the criteria.

 

Yr 11 and 12 Biology students have been completing dissections this term, allowing them to visually see the structure of organs and organisation of tissues within living things that ensure they carry out their necessary functions.

The Science Faculty wish Yr 12 all the best with their HSC Exams and a reminder that some courses have revision sessions during the holidays. Students need to see their teachers for individual course details.

Mrs Louise Watkiss - Head Teacher Science