Science

Science at SAC has been going strong as our student scientists continue learning about the world and universe around them through both first hand investigations and research. 

Year 8

Year 8 has been working in groups, learning about the solar system and over the last two weeks we have focussed on learning about how day and night are caused, how seasons form and what causes eclipses to occur. Students made 3D models, online presentations, google sites as well as scripts for presentations. This week we have learned about ancient ideas early civilisations had of the structure of the solar system from Indigenous Australians, Incans, Ancient Greeks, Middle Eastern and Renaissance Astronomy where different students researched one civilization, and then did a gallery walk to evaluate the findings of their peers and learn about each other's research. We are now preparing debates to learn viewpoints of people who once supported 'geocentrism' over 'heliocentrism', and look forward to having a constructive conversation about the ideas people had in the past, and the technologies that have paved the way for deeper knowledge about our universe and how to further explore it.

Marina Assey

Science and Mathematics Teacher

Year 7

Our Year 7 scientists have been learning about forces including friction, gravity, magnetism and electrostatics. This has led to some fun and interesting investigations including exploring the magnetic field of bar magnets using iron filings (pictured), making paper helicopters to investigate the effects of gravity, as well as investigating static electricity through different materials and using a Van de Graaff generator. If they haven’t already, soon students will begin their new module on energy which again prompts some great experiments so watch this space.

Year 9

Year 9 scientists continued to study ecosystems including ways in which different organisms interact with one other whether beneficial (mutualism) or even harmful (parasitism) to some species, as well as methods of managing and conserving ecosystems including that of First Nations communities, the impact of invasive (otherwise known as introduced) species, and understanding why Australian biosecurity laws and regulations can be quite strict. Some classes participated in a mock court case involving a fictional celebrity who tried to bring in a pet from overseas but did not follow the appropriate biosecurity regulations to declare the pet. Each student played a role in the mock court whether being the judge, jurors, lawyers, witnesses, or even representatives from the media. Students seemed to have enjoyed themselves combining their scientific understanding, their research of laws and regulations, along with acting and improvising.

Year 10

The SAC scientists of Year 10 have been learning about the vastness of the universe and scientific theories of how the universe began alongside the Catholic perspective and interpretations. Students modelled the Big Bang theory using balloons, relating it to how the universe is constantly expanding, as well as investigating the evidence supporting these theories. 

Students are excited as they have begun or will soon begin a short module on Forensic Science, where investigations will be similar to that of what is actually conducted in forensic science laboratories, as opposed to the fast forwarded versions often seen in television and movies.

Mrs Carmela Hollero

Assistant Leader of Learning Science