Science Week at Unley Primary School: Decoding the Universe

Unley Primary School's Science Week featured an engaging after-school Science Expo in the school’s Sports-Arts Centre, supported by a National Science Week Grant. The event attracted members of the wider school community, who enjoyed a showcase of student work across the fields of Earth & Space Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. It was a wonderful celebration of curiosity and discovery.

Student leaders from Reception to Year 6 guided visitors through interactive science activities so that children and their families could actively engage with science, showcasing the science skills, dispositions and knowledge that students are developing through their science learning at Unley Primary School.

Highlighting how science helps to decode the universe, there were investigations of forces and motion including push and pull, flight and gravity, changes to materials, examining geology and fossils, exploring light, waterproof materials and more!

Reception students explored material properties by helping visitors find a waterproof solution for Incy Wincy Spider. Year 1 students demonstrated the use of push forces with straw rockets, while Year 2 students focused on changing materials with playdough and using forces with bird kites. Year 3 students shared their geology knowledge and demonstrated non-contact forces using magnets. Year 4 students presented their biodiversity survey Citizen Science results and explored forces and motion with paper helicopters.

Year 5 and 6 students delved into complex topics such as brain structures, light refraction and reflection, the distances between objects in our Solar System, and Earth's structure. The Year 6 Planet Protectors ran a stall featuring Forest Box Fundraiser competitions and shared their projects, including the Mozzie Monitors Citizen Science Project. Professor Williams from The University of South Australia contributed with fascinating mosquito specimens and learning activities.

Students’ Oliphant Science Awards entries were on display, and Mrs Doull shared some learning from the Nilpena Ediacara National Park in the Flinders Ranges – including a model of SA’s State Fossil Emblem, Spriggina.

One of the most popular activities was a fun stall that allowed visitors to use forces and motion to knock down cup stacks with an Air Zooker!

Science as a Human Endeavour – helping us learn to decode the universe

Science learning at Unley Primary School leading up to and during Science Week delved into science as a human endeavour, decoding the universe and exploring real-world science through a variety of engaging activities:

• Year 3 and 4 students had the opportunity to learn from Associate Professor Caroline Tiddy, a geologist from the University of South Australia and a 2023 Superstar of STEM. She visited in Science Week and explained the role of geologists and the technologies they use, engaging students with a Seismograph app to measure noise levels. Caroline also examined rocks found by students and discussed how Earth's surface changes over time, linking to their classroom learning about Earth's resources and the Rock Cycle, including metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks.
• The Year 6 environmental leaders, known as the "Planet Protectors," are participating in the "Mozzie Monitors Project" this year, a Citizen Science initiative led by Professor Craig Williams from the University of South Australia. In Term 1, they set up a mosquito trap to collect local mosquito samples, which were photographed and sent to Professor Williams for species identification and research. Since winter is a dormant period for mosquitoes, the trap will be set up again in spring for more active monitoring. During Science Week, Professor Williams visited the school, bringing mosquito specimens and educational activities for the Science Expo.
• During Science Week, the Planet Protectors organised engaging sessions for students to explore science. In the library, students participated in nature crafting activities, painting friendship rocks with nature-inspired designs to be placed around the school gardens. In the Science Room, a session called "Exploring our World" allowed students to use microscopes and magnifiers to examine natural objects, including Goliath stick insects and a giant millipede. Additionally, a plant raffle was held, where students guessed facts about native plants for a chance to win a plant to take home.
• Earlier this year the City of Unley approached Unley Primary School for assistance with a biodiversity project aimed at creating a cooler, greener environment resilient to climate change. This Term, Year 4 students learned about biodiversity and collaborated with experts for this Citizen Science initiative. Dr. Chris Preston from the Waite Campus of The University of Adelaide discussed the importance of biodiversity in ecosystems and students conducted a candy experiment to illustrate scientific observation skills. Jeremy Gramp from Green Adelaide educated students on local biodiversity and guided them in conducting a biodiversity survey at the school. Although the survey found limited living things due to the season, students observed insects, birds, and plants, and have plans to revisit in Spring.

Miriam Doull
Science Teacher