Science


At Silverton we believe that Science is part of everyday life.

 

Our Science Program incorporates authentic and personalised learning to connect students to real world issues. We link science to sustainability and encourage students to collaborate with their peers, to take action on both local and global issues.

 

Key Features of our Science Program

 

  • Engage children by connecting science to the real world
  • Inquiry Based and Project Learning
  • Foster local and global partnerships
  • Teachers provide explicit instruction and learning but can also act as facilitators
  • Motivate students to take action
  • Encourage students to carry out research
  • Provide peer teaching opportunities
  • Support student voice
  • Maximize the use of flexible Learning spaces
  • Promote the use of outdoor spaces
  • Support the innovative use of ICT
  • Encourage creativity through multi –disciplinary approach
  • Maintain high expectations
  • Support other schools 

 

 

I sea I care Program  I Sea I Care

 

Silverton has been sponsored by the City of Greater Dandenong to take part in the "I sea, I care" program run by the Dolphin Research Institute. We are very excited to have this opportunity.

This is a leadership program and encourages students to become ambassadors for Victoria's precious marine environment. The program lasts for one calendar year and students from our school are offered the opportunity to attend a workshop each term.

 

Ambassadors learn about the values of the coastal and marine environment, the inland waterways, wetlands and the impact that we have on them.

 

Term 1 is all about fostering that sense of wonder and pride and therefore, a visit to the beach is offered.

 

The next incursion/excursion is hosted by one of the participating local schools.

 

 It is a Peer Teaching Day. Students first learn about the variety of animal and plant species that live in Port Phillip Bay. Next, students work teams to prepare a lesson using the information that they now have about our amazing bay to teach to younger students. Finally they get the opportunity to teach the lesson to younger students. They are then encouraged to repeat the lesson at their own schools to their own peers.

 

The third excursion is to Dandenong Wetlands. Students learn about the impact of rubbish on Dandenong Creek and watch staff from Melbourne Water empty the waste net traps and see first- hand the amount of rubbish that ends up in our waterways.

 

Afterwards they take part in rubbish pick up, plant trees and carry out a variety of water quality tests.

The last excursion for the year is at Pencil Park in Keysborough.

 

Students learn about local flora and fauna and look for aquatic macroinvertebrates in the wetland.

They also learned how local Indigenous people cared for and used the land in a sustainable way.

 

Student testimonial

On a perfect beach day in March, ten Grade Five and Six students and two lucky teachers went to Ricketts Point Life Saving Club. We went snorkelling in the shallows with experienced guides and then took part in rock pool ramble. After we learnt about the sea grass habitat, and identified the macro invertebrates that live there.

 

This was a fantastic experience for all of us and a day that we will always remember. We are all looking forward to the next three excursions/ incursions throughout the year.

 

Student Testimonial

 

KTK LogoWhat is Kids Teaching Kids?

 

Kids Teaching Kids is an educational model and program developed by environmentalists and educators, Aaron and Richard Wood. The program is based on a peer teaching model with teachers as facilitators. It provides students with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning and empowering them to take action on an environmental issue.

 

The Kids Teaching Kids process promotes and provides authentic learning opportunities. Students are encouraged to learn about local environmental issues with a strong emphasis of understanding the science behind the issue. Students are then supported to develop workshops to teach their peers and local community members about the issue.

 

The program starts in the classroom and extends into the community where students become leaders focused on finding solutions to local environmental issues.

 

 

Students take on the role of teachers to raise awareness about their chosen environmental topic or issue. They have access to tools, resources and services available through the Kids Teaching Kids website to plan, prepare and deliver their workshop at local, regional and national Kids Teaching Kids Conferences.

 

 A key element to the process is the opportunity for students to work with support staff from Kids Teaching Kids and local experts to develop the workshops.

 

Silverton has been involved in Kids teaching Kids since 2008. We have attended as participants and have also delivered workshops on several occasions.

 

An important part of the Kids Teaching Kids model and program is to encourage and support schools to hold their own local Kids Teaching Kids Conferences. Schools invite other local schools to take part either as conference participants or as a workshop school.

 

Students are involved at all levels of planning and implementation of the event. They invite schools to participate, organise registration procedures, catering and invite special guest such as the local Member of Parliament to open the event. We have held Kids Teaching Kids Conferences at Silverton each year since 2010.

 

Over this period we have had 12 schools taking part, most of these schools have presented workshops.

 

We hope to expand the event each year by getting more schools involved.  Kids Teaching Kids provide many resources to help in the planning and implementation of the event. These resources can be found on the Kids Teaching Kids website. http://www.kidsteachingkids.com.au/        

 

            KTK Kids

@ 2021 Silverton Primary School