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August 2022
August is a busy month for Science! The Oliphant Science Awards are in full swing with our Open Day being held at Science Alive! and it's National Science Week. There is plenty happening in the science community so be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to find out more!
Stage 2 Teachers, make sure to check out our Marking & Moderation workshops
plus Exam Prep Seminars for students are now open for registration.
Professional Learning
Call for Workshops is now open! Find out more here.
This year's theme is 'Modelling STEM'. Check out the website for a list of topics you may wish to consider when preparing a workshop submission.
Genetics & Food Chemistry Workshop
Wednesday 10 August
This workshop is aimed at teachers who want a fresh and innovative approach to teaching Biological Sciences and Chemistry.
Using grapevine management (viticulture) as the theme, we are able to teach science content such as Grape genetics, phenotypic characteristics in relation to soil science and food chemistry. You will receive ideas for several activities, experiments and fair test investigations, learning resources to take home to help you get started in the classroom.
For Stage 2 Teachers & Students
Marking & Moderation Workshops
- Nutrition & Chemistry - 15 August
- Psychology - 19 August
- Physics & Biology - 26 August
Exam Prep Seminars
- Biology - 27 August
- Physics & Psychology - 3 September
- Chemistry - 10 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.
Improving Science Literacy Workshops
2 September
22 September
In this course, 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.
Design and Deconstruct Workshop
23 September
This workshop is aimed at people who want to further their skills in setting, assessment and providing feedback on the D&D + practical report task. It also will cover the writing and marking of practical questions for tests and exams as well. There will be time to examine your own student work and participate in some cross-moderation and marking of work/drafts.
For your classroom | National Science Week
National Science Week
There are a lots of ways you can get your students, class, year level, school and community involved in National Science Week. Your participation can be as simple as a display in the school library, a Brain Break quiz event or as complex as a whole-school science fair. See all the events being held in SA here: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/your-state/sa/
The school theme for National Science Week in 2022 is Glass: More than meets the eye. It is based on the UN International Year of Glass. The Glass: More than meets the eye teacher resource book (11.5 MB, pdf) has lesson plans, activities, demonstrations, Indigenous and historical perspectives and curriculum links for teachers of classes from Foundation to Year 10.
Science Alive!
Saturday, 6 August and Sunday, 7 August 2022 9:00am - 5:00pm, Adelaide Showgrounds
Science Alive! is the largest, single, interactive, mobile science exhibition in Australia. With over 80 exhibitors including all the big names in science and technology, experience interactive and dynamic displays, plus spectacular science shows and performances for all ages. Get your tickets here now!
STEM Day Out
August 5th, 2022
9:00am - 3:00pm, Adelaide Showgrounds
Adelaide's Science Alive! Stem Day Out provides Year 7-12 students a window into the wide variety of STEM careers now available. 80+ exciting and hands-on exhibits. Engage with young early career scientists and engineers. Interactive workshops and STEM challenges.
Register for your school group today! One ticket required per group.
National Science Week Activities
National Science Quiz | Sunday 7 August
Join us for a fantastic night of science and fun with The National Science Quiz!
Hosted by Charlie Pickering from ABC-TV’s The Weekly and joined by some of Australia’s top scientists with our special guest team captains, each team will battle it out for the honour of being this year’s National Science Quiz champions.
While our teams discuss and ponder their quiz answers – our live audience can also play along for the chance to win a $500 cash prize! Find out more here.
MathsCraft Workshop | Tuesday 16 August
How does a mathematician think about and solve problems? What does ‘doing maths’ look like?
MATRIX invites Grade 5 – Year 10 students to join us during National Science Week 2022 for a MathsCraft event, and experience what makes research mathematicians love maths. You’ll have the opportunity to work on some really interesting and challenging maths problems. Find out more here.
What is the value of urban forest? | Saturday 20 & 28 August
Workshop for families with primary school kids on how to measure tree traits like temperature in the shade, growth, carbon and biodiversity
The workshop will include:
- Interactive presentation on what a tree is, tree impact on temperature, biodiversity and carbon sequestration
- Practice taking measurements on the selected species
- A seedling to take home so you can measure carbon sequestration each season. This will be provided along with a fact sheet for how and where to plant the seedling as well as how to take the measurements.
“What is the value of urban forest?” is a pilot program for a larger study currently in planning for groups to learn the value of urban trees and then plant their own seedling to measure annually. Find out more here.
Oliphant Science Awards
Open Days at Science Alive! 5 - 7 August
The Oliphant Science Awards is excited to be hosting our entire Open Day at Science Alive! for the first time this year! On display will be all the Models & Inventions projects plus the winning entries from all the other categories. Plus much more!! Find out more here.
Resources
For all resources available from SASTA visit the website.
Study Guides are now available!
Stage 1 & 2 Trial Exams - available now!
You can also bundle your Stage 1 & 2 Trial Exams with Topic Tests for a discounted price!
The SASTA Trial Exams are a 'must have' resource, developed by leading teachers to support Stage 1 & 2 Teachers. Teachers will be able to use the resource for students, a stand-alone assessment tool or to develop exam preparation skills.
Stage 2 Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology & Nutrition are available now.
Stage 1 Biology, Chemistry & Physics mid-year and end of year exams are available now.
Contributions from the science community
Tall Poppy Experiences for Primary & Secondary Students
Primary Experience: Tall Poppy Virtual Workshops Years 4-6 (Online Event)
Register here.
Thursday 1st September : 1pm - 2 pm - Dr Ayesha Tulloch: Conservation Science, Dr Hamish Clarke: Bushfire & Climate Change Scientist & Dr Linden Ashcroft: Climate Science
Friday 2nd September: 1pm - 2 pm -
Dr Maiken Ueland: Forensic Chemistry, Dr Hannah Wardill: Cancer Supportive Care & Dr Yee Lian Chew: Neuroscience
Secondary Experience: Tall Poppy Virtual Workshops Years 7-12 (Online Event). Register here.
Thursday 1st September : 9.30am - 10.30am - Dr Hannah Power: Coastal & Marine Science, Dr Hayley Letson: Trauma & Injury Scientist & Associate Professor Billy Sung: Consumer Psychologist
Friday 2nd September: 9.30am - 10.30am - Dr Marissa Betts: Palaeontology, Dr Tegan Cheng: Biomedical Engineering & Dr Brenton Hordacre: Neuroscience & Stroke Recovery Scientist
National Youth Science Forum
Applications for the 2023 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program are now open!
The NYSF Year 12 Program is a digital and in-person program that gives students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in STEM. Applications close 17 August. Find out more here.
Schools BioQuest by QuestaGame
School BioQuest is a fun, healthy, inspiring, outdoor STEM activity for all ages, played in backyards, school grounds, parks - anywhere. Not only do students get to be like Charles Darwin, honing their observation skills to take photos of nature, but they also:
- Have direct links to experts who help them identify and verify the observations
- Their data is added to global maps using innovative augmented reality technology,
- They build databases & field guides for their school grounds & regions,
- Using the BioExpertise engine, they classify living things & learn to recognise species characteristics to gain skills in identification.
Register your team for free to play in the August round here.
CONASTA 69
Please join us in Canberra for the Australian Science Teachers Association's annual conference for science educators between 25 - 28 September, 2022. This is an event not to be missed!
Registration is now open on the Science Educators Association of the ACT
(SEAACT) website.
Earlybird registration closes on Sunday 21 August.
BAE Systems
BAE Systems Australia are committed to supporting schools students and teachers develop interest and confidence in STEM based learning and are proud to launch their Skills and Education page.
Skills and Education | BAE Systems Australia | BAE Systems | Australia
Use this link to take you directly to the STEM learning Hub where a range of teaching resources can be found you can also use this link to book an outreach activity with our ‘STEM Influencers’ and find information about work experience opportunities.
Fruit fly in South Australia: School resource kit
Resources are available for school site leaders in fruit fly red outbreak areas – and teachers in any area – to use in the classroom, around the school and when communicating with parents and carers about fruit fly.
There are two parts to the resource kit:
- School resources – for red outbreak area schools educating their school community about canteen fruit, green bins and restrictions
- Teaching resources – for student learning purposes, including information on waste management programs with KESAB.
NextGen Landcare Youth Online Forum
Tuesday 23 August
Do you know a young person aged 12-18 that is making a difference for the environment?
Get them involved in the NextGen Landcare Youth Online Forum! This is an action-packed online event that aims to get youth inspired, connected and empowered to take action for the environment.
Hear from a range of inspiring young leaders and school students already doing stuff that matters, and learn about the diversity of ways that young people, communities, and schools can get involved in their own way. Find out more.
What's New at the South Australian Museum
Located in the main foyer, this 3.2m Lego model of the Ice Breaker RSV Nuyina made by Ryan 'The Brickman' McNaught offers a launching pad to engage students with science as a human endeavour. Why do we explore? How has changing technology allowed us to travel across water? What are the ethics of exploration? How do humans survive in hostile environments? Students can consider these questions and more throughout the Museum with canoes and watercraft from Aboriginal and Pacific Island Cultures, the Australian Polar Collections and even Andy Thomas' Space suit.
Mineral Lines is the result of a year-long Tutti Arts pilot project called Reaching Out. Tutti Arts is South Australia's only multi-arts organisation for learning disabled and neurodiverse artists. Artists Jackie Saunders and Laura Wills have responded to the mineral collection on display on level 3. This beautiful exhibition provides the opportunity for students to consider geological material from different social and cultural perspectives, and to consider how different people communicate scientific ideas through observation and connection. Mineral Lines is on display until September 18.
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
