ScitechTALK T4 2015

SciTech

This e-newsletter is designed to inform and support NSW

K — 6 teachers in the area of Science and Technology

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

TALK

Students from Tambar Springs PS, preparing food from their kitchen garden

Contents

 What’s happening  Agriculture and food week  Spotlight on schools  Stage 3 STEM  Social media Welcome Where has the year gone?

As schools have implemented new syllabuses, understood reforms, adopted frameworks and attempted to survive in amongst the day to day routines, we have endeavored to provide support and scaffolds to ensure our students are still receiving first-class learning opportunities. Enjoy the snapshots of schools trying to do less better: Quakers Hill PS, Queanbeyan West PS and Tuggerawong PS have provided examples of student activity and what science and technology can look like in your classroom.

As resources are being developed by different organisations, industry and external agencies in their attempt to ‘promote and support’ syllabuses, be mindful of inferior products. Be discerning in your choices. Ensure they link and support the NSW syllabuses (NOT the Australian Curriculum) and provide scope for authentic, contextual integration of subjects.

I also want to alert you to the Stage 3 STEM project we are developing. EOI submissions close THIS FRIDAY – 20 November. Published in SchoolBiz in week 5 and again this Friday, further details later in this publication. Please contact either Katherin Cartwright or myself for more information.

Enjoy the homestretch.

Tanya Science and Technology Advisor

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Hour of Code Hour of Code 2015 is coming: 7-13 December In 2015, Google Australia is partnering to support the national rollout of Code.org’s global Hour of Code campaign. The Hour of Code is an introduction to computer science designed to show that anyone can learn the basics.

What to do?

1) Have your school participate - share this handout and video with your staff and community.

2) Ask your principal to host an Hour of Code event.

4) Join us to be part of the largest learning event in history. No experience needed from teachers or students.

Start now by going to http://hourofcode.com/au

Digital Technologies MOOC The University of Adelaide, Google and Digital Careers have developed free online courses which help teach computer science and computational thinking at primary and secondary levels. www.csdigitaltech.appspot.com

• •

PIEFA news

PIEFA is holding their Food and Fibre Matters conference in Canberra (1-3 May 2016).

Registrations are now open.

2016 Primezone Partner Schools - Call for EOIs

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Sustainable Futures is an educational program that combines the latest in climate science with education in sustainability. This program was formerly known as CarbonKids and is part of the CSIRO education program. Registered schools receive staff training and support which includes workshops and integrated curriculum units about sustainability and the environment.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is now distributing a termly

newsletter designed to provide you with information and resources, helpful hints and tips, events, news and professional learning opportunities, all to support you in everything food and fibre. Peruse their first edition of EDUNEWS. RAS also develop various programs, challenges and competitions which support agriculture learning and teaching. Some of these include: Schools Australian Native Flora Competition; The great backyard pumpkin challenge and Schools vegie gardens class. For more information on these and other opportunities, including dates and entry details, visit www.sydneyroyal.com.au RAS hold primary farm days which incorporate agricultural learning into classrooms. Email: education@rasnsw.com.au or visit: http://www.rasnsw.com.au/education.htm for more information

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has

developed a competition based on Fire Ants which links to the Science and Technology, English and Geography syllabuses. The aim of the competition is to stimulate an interest in science, technology and agriculture while making real contributions to Australia’s emerging biosecurity threat: the red imported fire ant. DPI has provided a unit of learning and support for Stage 3 implementation. Peruse the competition guide and teacher’s handbook. Register online before Feb 13 2016.

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Review into Agricultural Education and Training in NSW – Summary report (p 4)

As a result of recommendation 2 from the Pratley report, an Agriculture and Food Week is to be established across all schools in NSW. The week is to be selected by individual schools, depending on local initiatives and connections with secondary schools and community. To support schools during their Agriculture and Food Week, a new website has been created to stimulate teaching and learning ideas leading up to and during the week. These ideas support student engagement and learning as well as help develop an interest in the origins of food. Embedding these ideas into integrated learning activities may provide opportunities for practical and authentic life-long learning for students of all ages.

Peruse the website to see how it can support you and your school.

A pilot was held in the Tamworth area at the end of Term 3 by a community of primary schools in partnership with Farrer Memorial High School. A collection of resources and ideas from this pilot have also been provided.

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

At Queanbeyan West Public School Kindergarten has been discussing designing new playground equipment. They have been investigating forces and motion in order to come up with their designs. The students completed some fun investigations, such as sliding across the hall floor in socks and without (discovering friction causes you to slow down) and sliding down the slippery dip covered in bubble wrap (discovering slippery dips do indeed need to be smooth!).

They have also conducted investigations on a variety of materials to see which ramps are best for fast rolling objects.

After all of the investigations the students started to think more about the different materials that could be used in their own designs. The students built models of their designs to share with the school principal who commented on their ability to articulate the processes.

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Quakers Hill Public School students were learning how to program a microprocessor so they could make LED lights flash. This was just the beginning! Once they leant the basics, the world was their oyster. They had already designed and produced shops and places of business for the construction of a local community. They are now in the midst of integrating their newly acquired digital tech skills to the building of their ‘homes’ with integrated/automated controls. They will be showcasing their creations to the MPs at Parliament House this Wednesday . . . watch this space!

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Over the last semester Tuggerawong Public School students have hatched a Chrysalis; grown their own herbs in their school garden; made catapults using only what was in a single construction bag; milked a pretend cow; grown bacteria from the teachers’ computer keyboard in a petri dish; and made rockets using everyday household items. The students have become so creative that they even planned and built a suspension bridge underneath the desk using only straws, tape and string. The objective was to successfully roll a tennis ball from one end to the other.

Milking a pretend cow (farm to plate)

catapult construction

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

A civil engineer in the making! (built environments)

a hatched and unhatched chrysalis (Living world)

An opportunity exists for schools state-wide to be involved in a Stage 3 STEM project. A grant will be provided to successful schools to implement their STEM program. The Department will fund the attendance (including travel and accommodation for non-metropolitan schools) of school teams at the initial two-day conference. Schools are invited to send up to three Stage 3 teachers and 1 executive teacher to attend the conference in Sydney.

The due date for the EOI is 20 November 2015, with confirmation of a successful application to be received by 4 December 2015. The two day conference will be held in Week 5, Term 1 2016.

The EOI was in SchoolBiz in week 5 and will appear again this week. All applications must be submitted before COB this Friday, 20 November.

Pittwater Coastal Environmental Centre

Help your students reconnect with nature by bringing them to the coastal environment centre. They will experience hands-on investigations linked to sustainability and the environment which support the Science and Technology K-6 syllabus with meaningful integration to other syllabuses. Empower your students to make a difference.

Excursions and sample programs are available on the website.

Phone 1300 000 232 or Email cec@pittwater.nsw.gov.au

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015

Keep up to date

Like us on Facebook

www.twitter.com/DoE_Scitech @DoE_Scitech

www.pinterest.com/DoEsciencetech

Share the link to a curriculum network email list with colleagues.

tanya.coli@det.nsw.edu.au

The non-DEC products and events listed in this e-Newsletter are to be used at the reader’s discretion. The inclusion of product and event information is not an endorsement by the DEC

Š State of New South Wales, Department of Education 2015