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July 2021
It's nearly semester break time!
But don't let that stop you from planning for Term 3 – there's lots happening!
SASTA news
Plastic Free July
Science Alive! Workshops
What do you have planned in your school or home for Plastic Free July? Here are a couple of things we're doing in the SASTA office.
Orders are shipped using the following (where possible):
- Paper “bubble” wrap
- Tissue paper printed with soy based ink
- Stickers printed with soy based ink
- Compostable mailers or boxes
We've replaced our plastic packing tape with paper packing tape and are currently looking for an alternative to plastic sticky tape! When we're unable to use compostable mailers we do use recyclable padded mailers or re-use boxes we've been sent.
Our caterers, Zilishus, also use all compostable packaging for our workshops.
Have you registered your students for these upcoming Science Alive Workshops?
Women in STEM Seminar at Science Alive!
This is an exclusive invitation for female high school students in Years 10-12 to join us in the Ridley Pavilion at the Adelaide Showground on Thursday August 5th 2021 for an evening of presentations by leading female scientists, engineers and professionals from a diverse range of STEM careers. For full details and to register for FREE tickets visit the website.
STEM Day Out at Science Alive!
Science Alive!'s STEM Day Out gives students a chance to engage with STEM fields in a hands-on way! Don't let your students miss out on an opportunity to engage with our wide range of science-related exhibitors, activities and experiences at this FREE event for Year 7-12 students and their teachers. For full details and to register for FREE tickets visit the website.
Finding STEM in the Science Curriculum Workshops - Friday 6 August
This is a FREE Teacher Professional Learning Workshop for teachers attending the STEM Day Out at Science Alive (details below). Register here.
The goal of the workshop is to provide teachers with a simple, practical process for implementing meaningful STEM challenges in the Science classroom. Teachers will explore exemplar tasks that incorporate engineering practices and design processes. The tasks and resources aim to give teachers the experience and support they need to plan and deliver STEM focussed lessons that highlight the design thinking required in engineering.
Professional Learning
*Please note COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines will be adhered to for all events
Last chance to submit a workshop!
The theme of the conference is 'Setting up for Success'
The aim of the conference is for our early career teachers to walk away equipped with the resources and best practice strategies for building their confidence and capabilities. Submit your workshop by Monday 5 July.
This workshop emphasises three components: Questioning, investigations and assessment.
This workshop will guide teachers through an instructional model with questions at its core. Teachers will be engaged in a number of different types of investigations that explore a concept or phenomena. Through this hands-on learning teachers will develop questioning techniques and look at ways to assess student understanding.
Marking & Moderation Workshops
These workshops provide an opportunity for teachers to discuss assessment and the application of the performance standards to samples of work, as well as to have invaluable professional input with their own student samples. An opportunity to readjust marking standards prior to final moderation.
- Chemistry - 20 August
- Psychology - 23 August
- Biology & Physics - 30 August
- Nutrition - 3 September
Exam Prep Seminars
Registrations are now open!
- Biology & Chemistry | 28 August
- Physics & Psychology | 4 September
All attendees must register to attend the event before the cut off date and bookings must be made via the website. All details are available here.
For your classroom
Fizzics Education
Huge library of resources for FREE, including science experiments, podcasts and STEM teaching articles.
Over 100 Free science experiments and project ideas using simple, low cost materials that teach science easily.
- Contains over 150 experiments that can be easily completed with household items
- The information is easy-to-access and divided into various categories
- Experiment pages contain helpful instructions, explanations and photos.
Duke at the Zoo
Most teachers know all about the Australian Curriculum linked learning experiences, events and resources available through Zoos South Australia. However, have you heard about Duke at the Zoo?
Zoos South Australia is the first zoo in the world to be an accredited Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Centre.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a leading structured (non-formal education) youth development program, empowering young people to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance.
The Zoos SA program is open to adventurers aged 16-24, and will run as a course parallel to the school year, February to November 2022 with two groups based from either Adelaide Zoo or Monarto Safari Park. Find out more and register your interest in the 2022 program here.
Resources
For all resources available from SASTA, see www.sasta.asn.au/resources
Study Guides now available online!
Stage 1 & 2 Trial Exams
The SASTA SACE Stage 2 Trial Exams are a 'must have' resource, developed by leading teachers to support SACE Stage 2 Teachers. This vital resource will familiarise teachers and students with the SACE Stage 2 exam format. Teachers will be able to use the resource for students, a stand alone assessment tool or to develop exam preparation skills. Based on feedback received in 2020 exams have been completely rewritten. Find out more here.
End of Year Stage 1 Trial Exams are also available for Biology, Chemistry & Physics here!
Oliphant Science Awards
The Oliphant Science Awards competition is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2021!
Thursday 1 July - Wednesday 21 July
Multimedia, Science Writing & Scientific Inquiry entries MUST be submitted online. As per 2020, Reports ONLY for Programming, Apps & Robotics must also be submitted online by 21 July.
Have you seen the latest blogs on the Oliphant Science Awards website? In June we covered:
There will be more to come each month so keep an eye on the website and our Facebook page!
Contributions from the science community
Greening Adelaide School’s Project
SASTA members and experts in Environmental Science met on Wednesday night (23rd June) at the university of Adelaide to discuss opportunities for schools to contribute to the Adelaide as a National Park City project. The group was led by Professor Robert Hill, Director, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide and Prof Chris Daniels, Presiding Chair of the Green Adelaide Landscape Board. Teachers heard from research scientists such as Dr Katja Hogendoorn who spoke about the Green Carpenter Bee conservation project, initially started on Kangaroo Island, the focus of this project has recently expanded due to the impacts of the 2020 catastrophic bushfires. Dr Erinn Fagan-Jefferies also spoke about Insect Investigators, a research project that involves schools partnering with her to run insect traps to collect parasitic wasps. Teachers were invited to connect with these and the other highlighted projects, as well as share their own ideas for new projects that could support the work towards Adelaide becoming a National Park City.
This was just the beginning of SASTA members involvement in this exciting project, look out for more information to come! You can find out more information here. If you're an Advertiser subscriber you can check out this article: "Bold bid to make Adelaide a National Park City."
Resource book of ideas
This year’s Resource Book of Ideas for National Science Week offers teachers and students the opportunity to explore the following concepts in addition to this year’s theme - Food: different by design.
Some of the scientific discoveries, inquiries, activities and themes used in this resource book examine fruits, vegetables, tea and food waste. Other themes include cooking with food, preserving food, bottling food, fermenting food, upcycling food, designing gardens, designing menus, plates and even designing insect-based burgers. Access your copy here.
Indigenous Resource Book
Did you know there is also a National Science Week Indigenous Resource Book for 2021? This is a lesson content directory for the cross-curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures and it has some great starting points for teachers at different year levels to explore this year’s theme with a First Nations perspective. Find out more here.
Digital Tools in the Classroom
The Australian Academy of Science’s education programs, Primary Connections, reSolve, and Science by Doing are conducting a survey to find out how teachers use digital tools in their classrooms.
Take this short survey and let them know how you use digital tools in your classroom.
The data collected will be used to inform the design of future digital offerings, designed with teachers in mind.
Contact SASTA
South Australian Science Teachers Association
249 Henley Beach Road Torrensville SA 5031
P 08 8354 0006 F 08 8354 0008 E office@sasta.asn.au
www.sasta.asn.au
