Science Education

🌊 National Science Week is approaching!

National Science Week is fast approaching (15-23 August 2020) and we are super excited to celebrate all things Science at St Raphael's. This year's school theme is Deep Blue: innovation for the future of our oceans, and we look forward to learning all about this in the coming weeks during science time.

What's making waves in ocean science?

 Find out by joining a webinar (link below) with an expert panel of scientists to find out the impact of the biggest problems that our oceans are facing, and how science can solve them. Aug 17, 2020 5:30 PM (AEST)

National Science Week organisers have produced new activity sheets for doing science at home or in a local parkland, especially if you can't get out this National Science Week.

The DIY Science Series includes tips on how to make a weather station, and for doing a backyard biolblitz: dissect a flower, identify insects and "suss out" what animals are living nearby. There are also astronomy activities including making a sundial, observing satellites and identifying stars and planets using our August star charts, as well as astronomy to do when it's cloudy (please see link below).

🧲️ St Raphael's Virtual Science Pop-Up Shop: 

Launching today (for the upcoming 2020 National Science Week), St Raphael's has collaborated with Science Supplies Australia to open our inaugural online Virtual Science Shop! This is a wonderful opportunity to further engage your children with science learning by purchasing some very cool science toys/products. Science Supplies Australia (SSA), is a family-owned business and has kindly offered us this fundraising opportunity, where SSA will give back 15% of the profit, in the form of store credit to purchase more science resources for the school. The virtual shop is open from today until Friday, August 21 which marks the end of National Science Week for 2020. The shop is also a great opportunity to purchase birthday presents and early Christmas gifts. There are also a couple of products for adult science enthusiasts to consider, all while supporting the Science program at St Raphael's. 

Please see the Google Form link below to browse and submit orders:

🌏 World Record Holders 

By Jemma and Liam O’Donohue

Introduction

On Sunday the 21st of June we participated in the Dark Sky Alliance’s World Record attempt observing the sky and got educated on light pollution at the same time. Light pollution is the bad effect man-made lights have on animals, plants and humans. Over 10,000 people participated in the virtual event. We now hold the Guinness World Record for the most users to take an online environmental sustainability lesson’. 

Liam’s experience

When I did the Dark Sky light pollution activity I learnt that we need to create less light pollution and use more animal-friendly lights with special domes. Lots of moths and other animals die each year or don’t reach their destination because they are attracted to city lights. The event took place all around Australia and New Zealand. I like the Guinness Book of Records and now I am a Guinness World Record holder. If you want to find out more about this look at the link at the bottom.

Jemma’s experience

For me it made me think and relax to be outside and look up at the sky. This is something I haven’t done in a while. The way it was presented was amazing and very educational 

I recommend that you do it because there are lots of little things we can change to stop light pollution. The lesson only took 30 minutes you can do the lesson too and you can report your observations any time to the Dark Sky organisation. 

Conclusion 

Our family took part in this event and it was alot of fun. For us it was mostly cloudy and we saw not much at all in our actual observation.

Remember to find out more about light pollution by clicking on the link below. 

https://www.australasiandarkskyalliance.org/world-record-light

Jemma’s certificate: 

https://www.docdroid.com/file/download/Z9Wk4sg/gwr-certificate-1-1403-pdf.pdf

Liam’s certificate: 

https://www.docdroid.com/file/download/Z9Wk4sg/gwr-certificate-1-1403-pdf.pdf

🔭 Science Supernova Recipients Week 2 and 3

🗼STEM Challenge: Famous Landmarks

Week 2 saw students work in sibling teams or individuals to recreate famous landmarks around the world. I was blown away by the diversity of constructions and engagement with the task. Thank you to each and every student for giving this STEM challenge a "red-hot go"! A big thank you also to all the families who are supporting their children during home learning. Congratulations to our special winners of the Famous Landmark Challenge (prizes were sent in the mail):

F-2 Individual Winner: Victoria Dinst FJ

3-6 Individual Winner: Orlando Talarico 3/4L

Family winner: Charlise & Victoria Politis

Please see below a small sample of the wonderful creations:

🍴F-2 Upcycling

In week three, students were asked to consider if there were any objects and things lying around their home that could be upcycled. F-2 students were introduced to some of the benefits of upcycling including:

• Reducing the amount of waste and therefore landfill.
• Reducing the need for production using new or raw materials (therefore reduces air pollution, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions).
• Producing unique, one of a kind products.
• Saving money – for example, you could upcycle your clothes into new designs.

Students attempted to make an upcycled toy/object (Forky- using a spork) from unused objects or materials from around their homes. Please see some wonderful upcycled creations below:

📧 Contact Details

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.