Science Education
“You don't have to be Einstein's cousin to do science subjects. All you need is a knack for asking questions, thinking about how to solve problems, and perseverance. That's the same for any job really - stick with it and you will get there.”
Dr Cathy Foley, Australia's Chief Scientist
Food technologists develop and improve existing food products and set standards for producing, packaging and marketing food. They use chemistry, microbiology, engineering and other scientific methods to study the process of food deterioration.
I just wanted to say a big thank you for supporting your children in the science education program at St Raphael's. Unfortunately, I am moving on from St Raphael's at the end of next week, but I just wanted to express that I have thoroughly enjoyed working at St Raphael's and I will miss collaborating with my favourite little scientists. I have no doubt their science understanding and science inquiry skills will continue to grow exponentially for the remainder of their time at St Raphael's.
In term 3, all students from Years Foundation to 6 will participate in and celebrate National Science Week 2021 (August 14-22). The school theme this year is:
Food: Different by Design
Each year, ASTA (Australian Science Teachers Association) considers the United Nations “International Year Of…” when exploring potential themes, and 2021 provides us with both the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables and the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
In keeping with these UN topics, Food: Different by Design covers a broad range of areas in food production and sustainable agriculture, enabling students to explore topics such as biosecurity, food technology, laboratory-developed foods, etc.
During allocated Science time, Year F-6 students will participate in carefully selected incursions lead by Mad About Science. Listed below is are the names of the workshops/activities that your children will experience in each year level. Each workshop is aligned to the Victorian Science Curriculum.
Foundation and Years 3/4: Food, Different by Design
Students will explore the National Science week 2021 theme ‘Food, Different by Design'. They will learn about where food comes from and the future of food technology and sustainable agriculture. Students will also have the opportunity to taste a food of the future.. insects!
Years 1/2: Kitchen Chemistry
A fun workshop, challenging students to think about everyday food in a whole new way. Students will experiment with a variety of food-related chemicals, and they will even get to take home a bag of sweet, tongue-tingling sherbet.
Years 5/6: Forensic Detective
Can you crack the case and catch the thief? Students will use real forensic science techniques, like pH tests, handwriting analysis, fingerprint dusting, and more to pinpoint the culprit.
This year, Science Week will be a wonderful opportunity to further engage students in environmental advocacy, sustainability, and an opportunity to improve scientific literacy.
madaboutscience.com.au
Robogals Melbourne is holding a Science and Engineering Day as part of the Robogals Science Challenge 2021. The Robogals Science Challenge is an international online STEM competition run by Robogals Asia Pacific to complement our core workshops and engage young women and gender diverse students to become involved in STEM beyond the classroom. For more details regarding the Science Challenge, please visit the Science Challenge website below.
The Science and Engineering Day will consist of a series of free virtual workshops held on Saturday, 24 July 2021 from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Students of all ages and experience levels are welcome to complete software and environmental engineering workshops tailored to different age categories.
I hope to see your children participate in this event!
Date : Saturday, 24th July 2021
Time : 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location : Online (Zoom link to be provided upon registration)
Cost : FREE
Registration Link : https://tinyurl.com/melb-sed-2021
For any questions regarding this event, please contact scichal@robogals.org or melbourne.schools@robogals.org.
Students are invited to design a poster to promote the STEM MAD Showcase.
The winner of each category will have their poster printed and displayed at the Showcase and component images may be used in marketing materials and media.
Entries are in two categories: primary and secondary.
The design must be A3 portrait size (W 297 mm x H 420 mm) using high resolution (300dpi at 100%) images. Only print-ready pdfs at the specified size will be accepted.
The design should include the following elements:
● STEM MAD Showcase
● Making a Difference
● Inspire. Innovate. Animate.
● Your school name or logo
The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm on Friday 30th July
More information:
For more information about the showcase opportunity and the banner competition, as well as application and submission forms, see the website https://sites.google.com/vic.catholic.edu.au/stemmad/home
National Tree Day started in 1996 and has grown into Australia's largest community tree-planting and nature care event. It’s a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the community. While every day can be Tree Day, we dedicate celebration of Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day to the last Friday in July, and first Sunday in August respectively. In 2021, Schools Tree Day is Friday 30th July and National Tree Day is Sunday 1st August.
We have started to build our Milk Bottle Igloo, which is our whole school STEM project in 2021. The Year's 3/4 students along with Ms. Catherine and the new science teacher will continue to lead the project, which is taking shape on the mezzanine level between the school library and the Year 3/4 classrooms.
Watch this 'Arctic' space!
Science Inquiry Skills
National Schools Tree Day
Learning Intention: Students will learn the basic steps to experimental method (Predict Observe Reason and Explain) with a simple experiment ‘COIN DROP’. | Success Criteria: Students will correctly use a teat pipette and predict how many drops of water can be held by a 10 cent coin. Students will draw their observationsthe and learn the science of water molecules attracting to form a skin. |
| Learning Intention: Students will be able to celebrate School’s Tree Day by exploring and becoming a leaf detectives. | Success Criteria: Students can collect, measure, describe and draw leaves around the school ground. |
Chemical Sciences Unit: Bend it! Stretch It!
National Schools Tree Day
New Italian words introduced this week:
Tree/Trees: Albero/Alberi
Leaf: Foglia
Leaves: Fogliame
Learning Intention: Students will be able to investigate how easy it is to change the shape of a ball of playdough, the longer it is left to dry out. | Success Criteria: Students can discuss the observations and results of the investigation. |
| Learning Intention: Students will be able to celebrate School’s Tree Day by exploring and becoming leaf detectives | Success Criteria: Students can collect, measure, describe and draw leaves around the school ground. |
Physical Sciences Unit: Heat Energy
National Schools Tree Day
| Learning Intention: Students will be able to celebrate School’s Tree Day by exploring and learning All About Trees. | Success Criteria: Students can research and recall information about trees and reflect on why they are important. |
Learning Intention: Students will be able to explore animal behaviours related to heat energy. | Success Criteria: Students can PLAN a science investigation into how heat moves through different materials. |
Please support your child to enter the 2021 3/4 Science Classroom, code: 353e
Chemical Sciences Unit: Matter Matters
Robogals Incursion: Python Coding
New Italian words introduced this week:
Lo Scopo: The Aim
Ipotesi: The Hypothesis
Variabili: Variables
Esperimento: Experiment
Viscosita: viscosity
Learning Intention: Students will be introduced to the different types of engineering and their impacts on our daily lives. | Success Criteria: Students can take part in a series of coding activities that will introduce them to Python and develop their problem-solving skills, while exploring sophisticated coding concepts. |
Learning Intention: Students will be able to perform short investigations to explore the properties of gases. | Success Criteria: Students can relate observations of gas behaviour to its properties. |
Please support your child to enter the 2021 5/6 Science Classroom, code: sm47vvf
Earn funds for our school and be entertained these school holidays!
Check outwww.funscience.com.aufor some engaging educational science projects. Check out our STEM kits, Science gifts, chemistry items, and much more.
Enter discount code STRAPHAEL to obtain a 5% discount for you and we will also give *10% back to the school to spend on Science equipment.
*Minimum spend $20 to obtain discount and rebate for school - a delivery charge applies.
Any questions email info@funscience.com.au
Thank you for your support! Fun Science (A division of Science Supply Australia).
This year we will continue to collect bread tags for 'Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs' and we will also begin collecting plastic bottle tops. Last year, the students were moved to action when they discovered that many young shearwater birds hatching on Lord Howe Island were dying because of the plastic they were consuming which includes plastic bottle tops. There are collection tubs in the Science Room, so please encourage and support your children to collect bread tags and plastic bottle tops to care for Our Common Home.
Patty Luna: pluna@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au
Please note, I will respond to emails Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm.
