Greta Junior

Science

MRS FRAN BRAZIER, HEAD OF SCIENCE

2021 saw the implementation of the new Year 10 Science program, to give students a ‘taste’ of each of the senior Sciences offered by the College (Agriculture/Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology) and to introduce the types of assessment students will encounter in those subjects in Year 11 and 12. This amended program assists students with their subject choices for their senior years of schooling. The department introduced a Year 9 Agriculture elective, developed by Miss Lucy Easton, and saw the expansion of the Agriculture facilities at the College, with a second Ag plot for field studies.

A ‘STEM afternoons’ extra-curricular opportunity was offered by Ms Mary Timmer to all Middle School girls to promote their developing interest and enjoyment of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects: • teaching coding • promoting innovative design and construction.

This project was in response to the Australian Government Department of Education and Training ‘Restoring the focus on STEM in schools’ initiative.

The department continues to utilise more Information and Communications Technology, specifically the ‘MyFairholme’ Learning Management System platform, for the improved design and delivery of engaging learning across Science subjects and to enhance student-teacher communication within these subjects. Also, the extensive use of data loggers enables in-depth data analysis of student experiments. As always, our aim is to immerse the students in the Engineering Design Process that incorporates innovative, analytical and critical thinking to solve problems in collaborative teams.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

• Year 8 Science Excursion to the Old Toowoomba Basalt Quarry. A Principal Resource Officer from the Toowoomba Regional Council Construction and Maintenance unit explained aspects of the proposed rehabilitation of the site. The field excursion enabled the girls to collect data for their Earth Science Unit assessment task for Term 4.

• Year 9 Science students investigated whether small solar panels are a feasible option to help solve energy poverty. The ‘SolarBuddy’ School Program culminated in students providing SolarBuddy solar lights to students living in energy poverty throughout the South Pacific, South-East Asia and Africa, to study after dusk.

• Year 9 Agriculture Elective Local Agricultural Industry Tour provided students with the opportunity to learn about the different industries and the variety of careers in Agriculture and Agribusiness. Visits included a Cotton Gin and Feedlots.

• Spark EDU Conference opportunity for inspiring and engaging forward-thinking Middle School students in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths). The intent of the conference was to connect students with inspiring industry role models, participate in handson STEAM activities, create networks and solve real-life design challenges.

• High Achieving Year 9 and 10 students competed in the Science and Engineering Challenge. The day provided participants with a positive experience of Science and Engineering and an opportunity to extend their learning in hands-on group-directed activities.

• The 3-day Year 9 Camp at Hastings Point in Northern NSW involved studying rocky shore, beach, and mangrove ecosystems, and human impact on these areas. The Camp provided students with the opportunity to practise field skills used in Senior Biology (e.g. data loggers, organism distribution patterns and field sketches). Students also enjoyed a morning of beach safety activities organised by the Cabarita Surf Life Saving Club.

• Year 11 Biology field studies in the local area are mandatory in the new Senior Biology Syllabus and involve students using and analysing authentic data. The studies included the classification of ecosystems and determining species diversity.