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October 2020
Happy Term 3 Holidays! We've just wrapped up the Early Career Teachers Conference, which was our first face to face major conference for the year.
There's still plenty more to come for the year with the sold-out Stage 1 Psychology Workshops in October, Exam Post Mortems via Zoom, Oliphant Science Awards Presentation Ceremony and the STEM Conference on Friday 27 November. Plus we've already opened registrations for our Nutrition Workshops for 2021!
We've also released our 2nd Edition Stage 2 Workbooks for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Scroll down to find out more!
SASTA news
Are you interested in joining one of SASTA's Reference Groups?
The Professional Development Reference Group (PDRG) and Oliphant Science Awards Committee are looking for new members to join!
The focus of the PDRG is to contribute to the planning of SASTA's calendar of professional development activities for SASTA members and teachers of science. The OSA Committee provides support and assistance to the planning of the OSA Competition and contributes to OSA judging and its processes to ensure a fair competition.
To find out more about these groups or to register your interest in joining please click here.
National Science Week 2021
Thank you to all the schools that contributed to our National Science Week wrap up! You can check them all out here.
The theme for 2021 has already been released - Food: Different by Design. The 2021 Resource Book of Ideas will offer teachers and students the opportunity to investigate a diverse range of topics about food and agriculture within a sustainability framework. Keep an eye on the ASTA website for further details.
Professional Learning
*Please note COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines will be adhered to for all events
Upcoming
Stage 2 Professional Learning
Stage 2 Chemistry Task Design Workshop
2 November 2020
This workshop will provide an opportunity to develop assessment design skills for SAT and Folio tasks. A significant amount of time will be dedicated to working with colleagues to create and refine assessment tasks.
Exam Post Mortems via Zoom
- Biology Exam Post Mortem | Monday 9 November
- Chemistry Post Mortem | Tuesday 10 November
- Physics Post Mortem | TBC
Please register online to receive the Zoom meeting link closer to the date.
New Course Nutrition Stage 1 and Stage 2 Workshop
14 January 2021
This session will provide an introduction to the new subject outline for Stage 1 and Stage 2 Nutrition covering content, resources, assessment and SACE requirements.
Teachers New to Stage 1 and Stage 2 Nutrition Workshop
19 February 2021
This session is aimed at teachers new to Nutrition and will provide an introduction to Stage 1 and Stage 2 Nutrition covering content, resources, assessment and SACE requirements.
SASTA Oliphant Science Awards
2020 Competition Wrap up
A special thank you to all the amazing sponsors, volunteers and OSA Committee members for their support this year!
This year we had 92 schools involved in the competition with a total of 2114 projects registered by 2840 students! The most popular categories were Photography with 383 projects registered, closely followed by Models & Inventions and Science Writing.
While Open Day was cancelled, we were able to set up a Virtual Open Day on the OSA website which includes video footage, photos and files for the winning entries!
If you are interested in being involved in the planning and organisation of this competition, we are always looking for new members to join the committee. Our first planning meeting for the 2021 competition will be held on Thursday 22 October, please contact becci@sasta.asn.au if you are interested in joining!
In your classroom
This program was presented as part of a workshop at the Early Career Teachers Conference. SASTA Members can find the resources here.
Eco-Schools
An Environmental Education framework and awards program promoting learning for a litter free and sustainable Australia.
For the first time ever, Australian schools can take part in the international Eco-Schools program! Already hugely popular on a global scale – over 52,000 Eco-Schools across 68 nations – participants find great encouragement in knowing their local efforts are being reciprocated around the world. 19.5 million students now attend an Eco-School and over 1.4 million teachers work in one – a force to be reckoned with! View the Video here Eco-Schools Framework VIDEO for a quick overview of the framework.
Getting Started: Schools register online at any time of year, then take manageable steps towards establishing the tried-and-tested Eco-Schools framework.
Cost: For only $100 + GST per annum school can take part in this program. Find out more on the website.
Each month we will be adding to our Website of the Month blog post, you can check it out here.
Resources
For all resources available from SASTA, see www.sasta.asn.au/resources
Stage 2 Workbooks
2nd Edition
SASTA is pleased to announce the Second Editions of our workbooks for Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry
and Physics* are now available to order. The Second Editions have been revised to include content from the recent SACE subject outlines as well as hundreds of new practice problems in each book. They feature revised descriptions, explanations, and illustrations of the course content along with hundreds of fully worked
examples and practice questions to take student understanding to a new level.
*Physics is currently available for pre-order.
2021 SASTA Resource Catalogue
The 2021 SASTA Resource Catalogue will be sent to schools next week, so check your pigeon holes when you're back from school holidays!
You can also download a copy of the booklist here.
Events and news in the science community
SASTA Journal
We're looking for contributions for the SASTA Journal! If you have anything you would be willing to share please contact our Journal Editor, Brent Banham.
You can check out previous editions of the Journal in the SASTA Members Area.
A Day in the Life of a Seven-Year-Old
The Australian Power Institute (API) along with program partner The Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (ATSE) have developed a STEM career awareness program for Year 2 students. This program aims to extend the curiosity around STEM knowledge and skills through sparking awareness of how STEM careers impact the world immediately around a child’s day to day life. For more details and to register, visit the website.
Primary Connections
New Website
Have you seen the new Primary Connections website? There are a range of Resources and Pedagogies to use in the classroom for best practice science inquiry, updated units as well as resources that support an approach to STEM and link science with literacy. You can also find tools, resources and ideas that guide teacher Professional Learning. Find out more here.
Underdale High School Prospective Teacher Tour
Monday 19th October | 3:30 - 4:45pm
Underdale High School invites Early Career Teachers and 2020 new graduates in the areas of Science, Design & Tech, Maths and Home Ec. to come along for a tour of their site on Monday 19th October.
Meet the Principal, tour our facilities and have a chat to our Learning Area leaders to find out more about the teaching opportunities at UHS for 2021.
RSVP via Sandra Ledgard on 8301 8000.
The Kingdom Fungi
Fungi are fundamentally important organisms. They're not just some kind of bizarre accessories in the landscape, but rather fungi underpin, pretty much every terrestrial ecosystem, on the planet. Join ecologist Alison Pouliot in this foray into the Kingdom Fungi in the video below.
Discover The Fun Of Backyard Geology
When you’re teaching your kids about the big wide world, why not start in your own backyard? Give them a shovel and turn them loose on the path to learning first-hand about our planet’s rocks and minerals through your own backyard geology. Visit the website for more information about Backyard Geology.
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
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