Oberthur Primary students blinded with science

OBERTHUR Primary students were encouraged to develop curiosity about the world around them during the school’s Science Discovery Day last week.

Timed to coincide with national Science Week, the day consisted of a number of science-based activities for all year levels.

Murdoch University’s external engagement program visited the Year 5 and 6s for a crash course in forensics, bringing with them a pretend corpse.

Students investigated how it had died, decomposition and maggots, the life cycle of a fly and reconstruction of skulls using bones to identify ethnicity.

Younger year groups set off rockets and volcanoes and the day culminated with the winners of the school’s “Crazy Chemical Concoction” home science challenge demonstrating their projects to the rest of the school at an assembly.

Science coordinator Larni Bathgate said the focus of the day was inspiring students to think deeply about science inquiry projects utilising visible learning cycles, where interests and curiosities drive the curriculum.

“We aim for our students to creatively and energetically problem solve in order to develop deep and meaningful scientific knowledge and skills,” she said.