STUDENTS from across the South East have pulled on their gumboots, grabbed their magnifying glasses and learnt “not all scientists wear labcoats.”
Through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning, Millicent High School’s Year 8 students teamed up with Year 6/7 pupils from Millicent North and Mount Burr primary schools and participated in environmental monitoring activities.
The activities assisted students with an investigation they completed about the Boundary Road gauging station, Stony Creek Drain, Lake Bonney and the Canunda windfarms.
Schools worked in collaboration to investigate the drain and its surroundings and relished the opportunity to learn more about the local area.
They looked at water quality, macroinvertebrates, the effects of Kimberly-Clark Australia on Lake Bonney, the flora and fauna of the area and the impact of renewable energy.
Last week, participating students showcased their completed projects and findings to interested community members and education leaders when they hosted a STEM Gallery Walk at the high school.
Mount Burr Primary School teacher Lisa Scott said the students completed a lot of field work for the project, which involved travelling to the Stony Creek Drain.
“As part of the project, students collected macroinvertebrates from the drain and identified them,” she said.
“They also went down to Lake Bonney, collected samples, brought them back to the science lab and water tested them.
“Some of the groups took photographs of the macroinvertebrates using digital microscopes and then identified them.
“By checking what species they had, they were able to figure out the water quality.
“Meanwhile, some of the other students had an interest in renewable energy and because of this they were given the opportunity to tour the windfarms.
“They then completed their inquiry and investigation with the assistance of Infigen energy.
“Students have worked together at the site, in the science labs and at the schools, this – as well as Google Education – has allowed them to collaborate as needed.”
The STEM Gallery Walk event was held for around one hour and students formed groups to answer any questions, share information and showcase the interactive products they had created, which demonstrated their learning.
Information folders were also presented to those attending and included documents on the students’ learning throughout the project.
The schools partnership on the project extended to work alongside local organisations including the South East Natural Resources Management Board, The South East Drainage Board, Infigen Energy and Vesta.
