Truganina South Primary School Newsletter

Science

Term 3

Topaz and Amethyst community participated in National Tree Day on Friday 27th July to help plant 190 trees. They made a new native garden near the Ruby portable and helped the council plant along federation trail, just behind the school. It was a beautiful sunny day and the kids had a blast planting the trees of the future.

 

Let’s get Physical! Term 3 Science is all about physics, movement, forces and energy. The preps have been exploring how different things move. They have been engaging in various games and movement activities to identify types of movement as well as observing the animals in the classroom and objects around the school. The preps will explore how different sized objects roll and what surfaces they can move best on to develop their understanding of friction.

 

The grade 1/2’s are studying push and pull forces. They have experimented with moving different types of toys and describing the ways they can move them. They have also started to develop their understanding of air resistance and the fact that air takes up space by carrying out investigations with plastic bags, cups and water. The students are learning to record information using the Predict, Observe, Explain model.

 

The grade 3/4’s are focusing on forces this term. They identified the forces used in different games such as dominos, bowling, blow soccer and modelling clay. The students explored how different sized forces can affect an object by rolling cans using their breath and their hands. They measured the distance using rulers to ensure scientific accuracy in their results. The grade 3/4’s will continue their study of forces by investigating air pressure, air resistance, magnetism and gravity.

 

The grade 5/6’s have been learning about electricity. They started their journey by opening a torch up to examine its internal components and hypothesised how they all connect and work. The students then explored static electricity through various experiments using balloons, salt, pipes and cans. They will continue investigating electricity, circuits, conductivity and sustainable energy solutions.

The Green Team are selling vegetables grown in the school gardens at whole school assemblies, please bring a gold coin to fill up a bag and support the students’ work.

Upcoming events:

 

SCIENCE WEEK

August 11-19th is National Science week. The Science room will be open to parents for the following sessions. Come along to your child’s science lesson and join in on the activity. Please make sure you check your child’s roll group so that you attend the correct session:

 

Monday 13th August

  • Session 2 – 9:40am-10:30am for TURQUOISE roll group D
  • Session 5 – 12:50pm-1:40pm for CORAL roll group G

Tuesday 14th August

  • Session 2 – 9:40am-10:30am for TOPAZ roll group D
  • Session 3 – 10:30am-11:20am for GARNET roll group F

 

Wednesday 15th August

  • Session 2 – 9:40am-10:30am for EMERALD roll group H
  • Session 3 – 10:30am-11:20am for SAPPHIRE roll group A
  • Session 4 – 12:00pm-12:50pm for OPAL roll group I
  • Session 5 – 12:50pm-1:40pm for ONYX roll group L

 

There will also be some lunchtime activities in the science room. Vanessa will email teachers with the timetable and will print it and display it on the Science room window.

 

KIDS TEACHING KIDS EVENT

This year Truganina South Primary School is hosting a Kids Teaching Kids event which will be held in Emerald community on Tuesday 4th September. A small group of students from the Green Team have been busy preparing a lesson about Frogs and will be teaching it to the Emerald community and other visiting schools, who will make up the audience and also present their own lessons. This program is undertaken Australia wide and has been running for many years. It connects and challenges students with real world issues, inspiring them to want to know more. By giving students the opportunity to present a workshop to others, students see that they can have a positive impact on the world, starting in their own communities.

 

EXTINCTION FIGHTERS CAMPAIGN

Ten grade 5/6 students have been chosen to lead the Extinction Fighters Campaign. They had the opportunity to participate in a live web conference with Werribee Zoo experts and learn about local endangered species, in particular the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. TSPS will be taking part in the “Common Cents” challenge to help the bandicoot. If you have any spare 5 cent pieces at home and would like to assist the zoo’s plight to save the Eastern Barred Bandicoot bring them along to the jars placed in each community J

Any students interested in taking care of the pet guinea pigs or spiny leaf insects over the September school holidays please see Vanessa.