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March 2022
Unfortunately a number of professional learning activities have been postponed this month, however check out the updated 2022 professional learning calendar to see what's coming up for the rest of the year!
This month we will be focussing on the Environment for our resources and communications. Check out our website and excursion of the month below and keep an eye on the blog and our socials for more to come this month! Did you see the new member resource on Glass to help you get started for National Science Week?
If you haven't had a chance to renew your SASTA membership for 2022 yet, visit the website here. Personal Membership prices have been reduced! Find out more here.
SASTA news
SASTA AGM & Call for Board Nominations
The 2022 Annual General Meeting of members of the South Australia Science Teachers Assocation Inc. will be held on Friday 29 April.
All members of SASTA are hereby notified of a call for nominations for 2 positions on the SASTA Board. If you are interested or would like more information please visit the 'Board Elections' section in the Members Area of the website.
SA Space School
Applications are now open for the SA Space School for Year 10 students from April 20-23, 2022
Please note applications close Friday 25 March 2022.
Applications ONLINE: www.spaceschool.com
Teachers please publicise this amazing opportunity to your year 10 students.
Mary Anning Art Prize
The aim of the Mary Anning Art Prize is to have young South Australian artists create an original piece of artwork that tells us something about the prehistoric life of South Australia. It is essential, to be eligible, that the artwork explores an element of South Australia’s rich and remarkable prehistoric past, and that the artist lives in South Australia. To explore and illustrate our own past is to better know who we are as South Australians, and to better understand our unique place in the history of life.
Submissions open 15 March. Find out all the details here.
Professional Learning
Due to COVID restrictions and concerns the SASTA Annual Conference has been
re-scheduled for 11-12 July 2022 (Term 2 school holidays).
The theme of the Conference is ‘Let’s Talk Science!’ with a focus on scientific literacy in science. Call for Workshops are now open! Find out all the details here.
For your classroom
Green Adelaide Nature Education
Build young people's knowledge about the natural world and strengthen pro-environmental behaviour.
These nature education resources are aligned with the Australian Curriculum and Belonging, Being and Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework, and provide hands-on nature activities and programs that engage students, their families and communities.
There are a range of downloadable teaching tools covering animals, plants and environments to support teaching about Adelaide's environment.
Visit the website here.
See Regenerate Australia!
This new, 17-minute short film is brought to you by the team behind the award-winning 2040 and That Sugar Film and asks ‘What would Australia look like in 2030 if we simply listened to the needs of its people?’.
Featuring Kerry O’Brien, Sandra Sully, Gorgi Coghlan, Tim Flannery, Larissa Behrendt, David Pocock and other well-known voices, the film is set on New Year’s Eve 2029 and takes the form of a news bulletin looking back at the decade ‘that could be’. A decade that saw Australia transition to a fairer, cleaner, more regenerative economy that values Australia’s greatest assets - First Nations' wisdom, our unique natural environment and our sense of community.
- Semaphore Cinemas Port Adelaide - 13 April, 6:30pm
- Victa Cinema Victor Harbour - 14 April, 6:30pm
- Mitcham Cinema Torrens Park - 15 April, 6:00pm
To support your students’ learning and help them get started in supporting regenerative change, Cool Australia have produced three curriculum-aligned viewing guides and six lessons for years 5 – 10.
Oliphant Science Awards
Are you thinking about running the Oliphant Science Awards in your School this year? Check out the recording from our Navigating the Oliphant Science Awards in your School Webinar for all the details!
Resources
For all resources available from SASTA, see www.sasta.asn.au/resources
Stage 1 & 2 Topic Tests - available now!
SASTA is excited to make available sets of Topic Tests that may be used as formative or summative Skills and Applications Tasks (SATs) in Stage 1 & 2 Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These tests are of the highest quality and feature a comprehensive range of questions including science understanding, science inquiry skills and science as a human endeavour.
You can also bundle your Stage 1 & 2 Topic Tests with Trial Exams! All trial exams are new for 2022 and the Stage 1 Trial Exam prices have been reduced.
Biology: Levels of Life e-book | MAD MARCH SALE
E-book currently available for just $15.00
- Briton Books now has an online version of the Biology: Levels of Life textbook.
- The e-book has all of the features of the printed text & can be downloaded & used offline.
- In place of the QR links of the text, there are hyperlinks for easy access.
- The e-book will also feature upgrades & additional information each year.
- Preview the e-book on the Briton Books website.
Study Guides available for pre-order!
As per previous years, these will be due for delivery in June 2022.
- School orders - Advance bulk orders for the 2022 Study Guides can be placed with Rebecca via office@sasta.asn.au or via the SASTA website.
- Student / individual orders - Pre-orders for students/individuals are available on the SASTA website. All pre-orders must be paid for when ordering.
Stage 1 Workbooks - Third Edition | All subjects now available!
Contributions from the science community
Women in Aviation Emerging Leaders Forum
1 April 2022
The event is aimed to inspire and support young girls and women between the ages of 16-35 in their pursuit of a career in aviation/aerospace.
In addition to the more obvious roles, such as pilot and aircraft engineer, we will also see a host of amazing industry representatives and speakers, from commercial roles, airport operations, defence, and many more.
We will also feature a guest panel, who will answer questions and provide tools on the following topics:
- being a leader before you a leader and,
- building your resume before you have experience.
Find out more here and book tickets here.
Evaluation of Education Programs
Advisory firm ACIL Allen together with the Western Sydney University have been commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment to evaluate the impact of three Australian Academy of Science education programs: Primary Connections, Science by Doing and reSolve: Maths by Inquiry. These education programs will have continued funding to be delivered across Australia from 2020-21 until 2024-25.
The evaluation will focus on the programs’ effectiveness and impact on science and/or maths teaching in Australia. This will also consider program efficiency, appropriateness and governance.
We encourage you to participate in this survey to share your experiences with using resources from the Primary Connections, Science by Doing and/or reSolve: Maths by Inquiry programs.
This survey will ask you questions about:
- how you use the program(s)
- the impact the program(s) have had on your professional learning and teaching
- how the program(s) have impacted your student’s learning.
Click here to take the survey. The survey will close on Friday 25 March 2022.
If you have any questions about this survey or the evaluation please click here
Brain Bee Challenge
The Australian and New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC & NZBBC) is a competition for high school students in Years 10 (Australia) and 11 (New Zealand) to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses. As a part of the challenge we provide you with excellent online resources for the students to develop their learning and knowledge. Round 1 will be ONLINE, and Round 2 will depend somewhat on the COVID-19 situation. For Round 2 we typically like to get the students on campus at one of the SA Universities, where possible.
For more information visit the website.
Clean Up Australia Education Resources
The Clean Up Australia lessons will inspire and empower kids to help clean up our environment. Kids will learn about waste and how it impacts our environment and will work together to organise a clean up event. Each year thousands of school students across Australia participate in Schools Clean Up Day to create a healthier environment for Australia and learn about ways to conserve our beautiful country.
Lessons include:
- There's No Waste in Nature
- Keep Waste Out of Nature
- Bugging the Litterbugs
- Map the Litter Trail
- Are You Sure It's a Waste? Circular Economy
- Right to Repair
Find out more here.
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
