Student Learning

Student Excellence Program

On Thursday 19th November SKiPPS participated in our first 'Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series' event as part of the new Education Department 'Student Excellence Program'. 

40 students from Years 3 to 6 were selected from recent Maths assessments to participate in the acceleration program run by the Royal Botanic Gardens called 'Designed by Nature'. 

The STEM-based program engaged students in the emerging study of biomimicry (design inspired by nature). Students discovered how nature can be used for design inspiration and problem-solving, observed the tried and tested biological strategies and looked at patterns in nature. 

The session was run via a virtual and interactive session involving videos, quizzes, games and presentations about biomimicry facilitated by an educator from the RBG. Once they had learnt about lots of designed that were inspired by animals and plants they had to come up with their own design inspired by the Golden Barrelled Cactus.

Here are some student designs;

Reflections from Year 6 student Magnus B;

On Thursday we had a biomimicry class.

First we learnt about what biomimicry means which is the act of taking a problem and using designs from nature to solve it.

Then we had a brief break before learning the implementations of biomimicry and trying to design an object inspired by the golden barrel cactus.

I made a water collector using the golden barrel cactus’s design. 

I really enjoyed it because it was engaging and educational. 

Chantel Jose

High-Ability Practice Leader