Year 7 Planting Pots

Year 7 students become plant scientists with the Pea Seedling Challenge. They went on a quest to uncover the secrets of seed density and its impact on growth!

Students planted pea seedlings at different densities, some spaced out, others packed close together. Their mission? To observe how crowding affects:

• Growth height
• Leaf size
• Root development
• Access to sunlight

Year 8 – Microscopes

Year 8 students become microscopic explorers, diving into a hidden world of biology! With microscopes in hand, they examine:

• Stomata – leaf pores that breathe
• Hair Follicles – the roots of our hair
• Fly Legs – tiny limbs with bristles and joints
• Root Hairs – plant straws for water
• Fish Scales – shimmering natural armor
• Frog’s Blood – life in motion under the lens
• Apple Skin Cells – a peek into the structure of fruit we eat

Year 9 - Microbial Plates

Year 9 students became microbe detectives, swabbing everyday items to uncover the invisible world of bacteria!

After placing their samples on agar plates, they watched as mysterious colonies began to grow. Each plate told a story:

• Tech grime from keyboards and screens
• Phone fuzz from constant handling
• Desk dwellers hiding in plain sight

Year 9 extension - Heat of Combustion

Year 11 students become energy detectives, testing how much heat different fuels release when they burn! Using flames, thermometers, and precision tools, they:

• Ignite fuels like ethanol and propanol
• Measure temperature changes in water
• Calculate energy released—aka the heat of combustion

Year 10 Ticker Timers

Year 10 students became physics investigators, using ticker timers to reveal the hidden patterns of movement!

By attaching ticker tape to moving objects, they captured a trail of dots, each one a snapshot in time. As the tape zipped through the timer, students decoded:

• Acceleration – how fast things speed up
• Constant velocity – smooth, steady motion
• Forces at play – what makes objects move or stop

Year 10 Motion Sensors

Year 10 students stepped into the role of real-time physicists, using motion sensors to capture and analyse movement with incredible precision!

As they walked, ran, or rolled objects past the sensors, they watched live graphs appear, showing:

• Speed changes
• Acceleration patterns
• Direction shifts

Year 11 Chemistry – Titrations and Solubility

Year 11 students became lab detectives, using titrations to crack the code of unknown substances and solubility tests to explore how compounds behave in different environments.

With precision and patience, they:

• Dripped acids into bases to find the perfect neutral point
• Used indicators to reveal chemical changes
• Explored how temperature and concentration affect solubility

Year 11 Physics

Year 11 Physics students explored the magic of light and gravity, bending beams with lenses and mirrors, and watching objects fall to uncover the secrets of acceleration and force.

From laser paths to free-fall motion, they saw physics come alive in real time, connecting classroom theory to the universe around us!

Year 12 Biology Natural Selection

Year 12 students stepped into the wild world of evolution, using coloured matchsticks to simulate how natural selection works in real ecosystems!

Each matchstick represented a creature in an environment. Some blended in and others stood out. Students scattered them across different backgrounds and observed:

• Which colours were “eaten” (picked off) first
• How camouflage affects survival
• How populations change over time