Palm Beach Currumbin State High
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Thrower Drive
Palm Beach QLD 4221
Subscribe: https://palmbeachcsh.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: info@pbc-shs.eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 5525 9333
Fax: 07 5525 9300

Junior Science News

Last term was a busy and challenging one for our budding scientists! Year 7 students investigated the Earth, Sun and Moon systems and how these systems interact to influence us here on the Earth. This unit is always popular among students. There are many ‘light bulb’ moments as they gain understandings of the inner workings of everyday phenomena such as Tides, Moon Phases, Eclipses and Solar events. Show your scientist the picture below and ask them to identify the seasons depicted in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere in each of the four stages of the Earth’s journey around the sun.

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This term Year 7 students are conducting an investigation on forces. Students are required to construct and test a balloon powered vehicle to investigate how forces affect motion. Towards the end of the term we will be running our annual Balloon Powered Vehicle Challenge. Each Year 7 class will nominate a representative team to compete and the supreme car building team of 2020 will be recognised and awarded with a certificate and prizes.

Year 8 students have been investigating all things rocks. Students are investigating processes from formation to extraction via mining and processes necessary for consequent rehabilitation. Classes have been most recently been growing alum and copper sulphate crystals to identify how the rate of cooling affects mineral crystal growth. 

Last term (during COVID-19 shutdown) Year 9 students investigated plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes then moved on to learning about Body Systems. When we returned, students were excited to get back into practical activities and this term practical activities = dissections. Dissections are one of the most popular activities in Year 9 where students observe and analyse dissections and tissue of rat, porcine pluck (lungs, heart, trachea and larynx), heart, brain, liver, kidney and bone. Ask your child about the relationship between the structure and function of lung tissue – if you dare!

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