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December 2021
As we start to wrap things up for 2021, the SASTA Board and staff would like to wish you a very happy, relaxing and safe festive season and break! The SASTA office will be closed for the holiday break from midday 17 December and will reopen on Tuesday 11 January.
In the meantime, there is plenty of information / workshops below to get you started for the 2022 school year!
SASTA news
2022 SASTA Membership Renewal
Don't forget to renew your SASTA Membership before you go on holidays! Personal Membership prices have all been reduced - Personal Members are now $95 and there is great pricing for 1st & 2nd year teachers and student members. Find out more here.
You can renew your membership subscription on the SASTA website. The 2022 Professional Learning calendar is now available to help you plan for next year!
Don’t forget, your membership will expire on 31 December 2021, so if you want to register for any 2022 professional learning after this date, your 2022 membership will need to be paid before you register to be eligible for the member price.
SASTA Journals
Both editions of the 2021 SASTA Journal are now available in the Members Area of the website!
Professional Learning
Register now!
Have you registered for the Psychology Summer Conference yet? There will be a Keynote Presentation from Dr Jacqueline Condon on 'Forensic Psychology: from the real world into the classroom' plus hands on workshop sessions to help you prepare for teaching Stage 2 in 2022!
Teachers New to Stage 1 & 2 Science Workshops
Registration is now open for the SASTA Teachers New to Stage 1 & 2 Science Workshop Series. Find out more here.
- Biology - Friday 11 February
- Physics - Friday 11 February
- Nutrition - Friday 18 February
- Chemistry - Friday 18 February
- Psychology - Friday 25 February
- Scientific Studies - Friday 25 February
Friday 4 March & Thursday 24 March 2022
This course develops participants’ capacity to explicitly teach the specific literacy of science at the same time as teaching the science content. Participants will learn to:
- apply and design teaching and learning strategies that scaffold students’ development and control of science literacy
- provide explicit feedback to students on their writing in science
- implement reading strategies: before during and/or after reading to draw attention to the language and structure of the text- how it is working to build science knowledge and understandings.
Call for Workshops now open
Conference theme: Let's Talk Science!
The theme of the 2022 conference is a focus on scientific literacy in science. Visit the website for more information including some prompts you may wish to consider when determining the focus of your presentation. Workshop submissions close on Monday 7 February! Submit your presentation here.
Oliphant Science Awards
Navigating the Oliphant Science Awards in your School Webinar
SASTA will be holding a FREE Webinar for teachers and school representatives interested in becoming School Coordinators for the 2022 Oliphant Science Awards on Monday 21 February.
This session will give you a chance to hear from the competition organisers, head judges and a panel of experienced school coordinators. Register here.
Changes to the 2022 Competition
We’re very excited to partner with Science Alive! for our Open Day event in 2022! Models & Inventions entries and winning entries from all other categories will be on display from Friday 5 August - Sunday 7 August 2022 at the Adelaide Showgrounds. This means there have been changes to the key dates for next year’s competition. Find out all the details in the 2022 Information Booklet here.
For your classroom
Coasts for Kids YouTube series
Coasts for Kids is a collaborative experience between children and their parents, coastal scientists, community artists, teachers, animators and coastal managers.
The series is aimed at kids aged 6 and over. It includes important concepts in coastal processes and coastal evolution in Episodes 1, 2 and 3, followed up by analyses of how people affect the coast in Episode 4 and what can we do about it in Episode 5.
MindSharp
MindSharp is a unique STEM Program for two groups of target learners aged 5-10 and 11-16. Through exploring and experimenting with shapes, patterns and their relationships, the learner acquires spatial thinking that is crucial for science and mathematics, as well as creative design skills.
Activity modules (with print and on-screen versions, deliverable by email) engage and challenge learner’s curiosity, and motivates attention more than just attendance. The program can be conducted in large or small groups or individually. Inclusive and accessible, it caters for learners of all intellects, and is suitable for users with special conditions and needs. MindSharp has provided SASTA with a free sampler. It comprises 6 engaging and deceptively simple activities.
MindSharp Challenge
The Challenge: Count the total no. of triangles on the TilingMat and have a chance to win a Lenovo 10 inch Android Tablet. SMS name and count to 0481 333 554 or email: uncrowd@uncrowd.net (Deadline 28/2/2022)
Resources
For all resources available from SASTA, see www.sasta.asn.au/resources
Stage 1 Workbooks - Third Edition | NEW
Physics now available
Physics sample pages available here.
Biology & Chemistry available for pre-order
The Third Edition of the popular SASTA Stage 1 Workbooks set students on the path to success in their study of science through their clear and engaging narrative, innovative use of art and photos, and superior contextual questions that enhance teaching and learning.
The Third Editions provide an unmatched comprehensive text fully mapped to the Stage 1 Biology, Chemistry and Physics Courses in South Australia. For more information and to order visit the website.
Biology available December 2021
Chemistry available February 2022
Contributions from the science community
Discover STEM careers in Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Industry
Modern shipbuilding is highly technical and incorporates cutting-edge engineering, technology and systems. With up to $183 billion invested by the Australian Government, and 15,000 people needed at the peak of work, Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding Industry is growing rapidly. This is great news for young Australians seeking secure and dynamic careers! Work will span more than three decades with 23 classes of vessels to be built for the Royal Australian Navy. The shipbuilding industry needs people with science, engineering and maths skills for a wide range of roles.
Visit the website to find out more and learn about the Naval Shipbuilding College’s FREE career conversations and Workforce Register.
Toyota Dream Car Art Contest - now open!
The contest encourages and inspires creative expression and imagination, challenging the boundaries of traditional thinking. It’s a chance for tomorrow’s engineers, designers and creative thinkers to let their imaginations run wild by drawing an image of their ‘Dream Car’.
Students who are wanting to enter the competition are required to draw or paint a picture of what they imagine their dream car will look like. Lessons have been designed to assist teachers in developing creative thinking with content covering environmental and social topics.
To find out more and check out some of the entries from previous years visit the website. Entries close 28 February 2022.
Apply for a grant from the Seedling Bank
The next round of applications for grants from The Seedling Bank are now open to schools and community groups around Australia!
The Seedling Bank funds projects of all sizes. There is no upper limit to the amount of funding you can request –we’d love to support some large regeneration projects! Furthermore, we believe every day is Tree Day and are happy to support plantings happening throughout the year.
To register your event, get more information on The Seedling Bank or apply for a grant, head to the National Tree Day website. Applications close Friday 25 February 2022.
Wildlife Education Program @ Softfoot Sanctuary
When visiting Softfoot Sanctuary we offer two daytime sessions and one nocturnal session per day. When your group books in to visit, you can nominate the activities that you would like our enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff to deliver. These activities are outlined on the flyer here. Variations may need to be made on the day depending on weather or other external circumstances, but we can guarantee that your students will have an enjoyable educational excursion with us!
For further information contact Alex Carr, Education Officer on 0435 602 155 or education@softfoot.com.au
Global Learning in Agriculture Community
Following on from the theme for National Science Week this year, the ASTA national secretariat has teamed up with the Global Teach Ag Network to offer Australian educators with complimentary access to the Global Learning in Agriculture (GLAG) Community. This offer is valid for the first 25 educators who sign up by 1 February 2022.
To sign up click here. To learn more about the Global Learning in Agriculture Community visit the website.
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
