Secondary Newsletter 26 – May 20, 2022
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- Curtin Singapore IT and Computing Info Sessions
- Who wants to study Digital Media and Computer Security? | May 21st
- The University of Sydney : Undergraduate Taster Series (Virtual) on 28 May 2022
Science Department
The science department has been thoroughly enjoying having the students back in the lab for the last term of the year. Science is a ‘hands-on’ endeavour and having students back in person has been great for their scientific exploration and inquiry. Here is a small sampling of some of the things they have been doing:
Grade 6
The 6th graders have been busy in the Science lab learning about Density. They are conducting experiments and gathering data that they will use to write their final lab report!
Grade 7
The G7 students have studied the process of soap making. They did their research, in groups, and planned their own soap making session. When they had all their soap ingredients they made their soap. Because they were working with lye (NaOH), they needed to work safely and mindfully. The next stage for them is to design their own packaging for their soap, but first, they are hard at work to write their final assessment which is to make a digital poster on “Soap, and how has Soap Impacted Society?”
Soap, not cake.
Grade 10
The Grade 10 Science students have been dedicated to the study of Genetics on two fronts:
First, they worked on their research and thinking skills throughout the term, particularly for writing a summative assessment essay on the impact of science on the definition of sex and gender.
Currently, they are focusing on exploring the concepts of Relationships, Patterns, and Evidence, where the students acquire knowledge and understanding of types of reproduction, chromosomes, genes, alleles, cell division, and patterns of inheritance. Finally, the students will be assessed for their knowledge and understanding at the end of the term.
The units covered in Grade 10 often help students decide on which Science they want to pursue in Grades 11 and 12.
Grade 11
DP Sciences:
Diploma Program students have been performing experiments in their respective science courses a little more often since the return to 100% being on campus, but still have quite a lot of content to get through in the next year. They have reached a milestone in their 2 year journey of surviving their first year as DP students. We are proud of all the hard work they have put forth this year. Keep up the good work class of 2023!!
Pictured below: “Chemistry students be doing chemistry!” – Mr. Ingram. This experiment is able to showcase how the concentration of a reactant in a chemical reaction has an effect on the rate of the reaction. This is a reaction of sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid. The time it takes to change opaque is directly proportional to the concentration of the reactants. Easy! 🙂
Pictured below: Biology students spent a lot of time working on the connection between cells, genetic inheritance, evolution and biodiversity. One example is that students now know the process of Meiosis, the process of making gametes to be used in sexual reproduction.
Grade 12 – Congratulations on your graduation next week!! So proud of all your accomplishments!
Fun facts from the science department:
- Did you know 50% of your DNA is identical to a banana?
- Did you know that 60% of you is water and that 65% of you is oxygen?
- Did you know that Albert Einstein did not win a Nobel Prize in Physics for the Theory of Special Relativity (or E=mc2 as we commonly use)? It was for his discovery of the Law of the Photoelectric Effect (something you may not have even heard of).
- Did you know that the atoms that make up your body, and everything in our known universe, were formed in stars?
“We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out – and we have only just begun.” – Neil Degrasse Tyson, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.