To celebrate their great results in the ‘Cheese your own Creation’ calendar challenge and to, let’s face it, just have some fun, our Year 7/8 Food and Agriculture Food Technology students were invited to design create and consume Freak Shakes for their last lesson of the term. For the uninitiated, Freak Shakes are completely outrageous milkshakes that double as a drink and a dessert. You have your milkshake portion (to satisfy your thirst), and loads of confections on top to satisfy any other sweet cravings you might have. After researching examples of shakes students had to design a shake and submit a purchase order for milkshake staples or they could provide their own delicious decorations which were produced in the Food Tech classroom. Freak Out! As part of their remote learning classes the Year 7/8 Funky Fabrics textiles students had investigated Aboriginal dot painting as an extension of their use of natural fibres, plants and tools to decorate and colour fabrics. Students learnt that dot painting was a well recognized style used by Australian Aboriginal artists as a medium for telling stories and enlivening culture. Our students researched the meanings of various symbols and patterns and designed their own dot paintings. Since returning to school the students have painted the designs onto a calico bag, with amazing results. Thanks to Star Printing for supplying the bags at short notice. A feature of the TAP is the inclusion of real life applied learning opportunities so we had invited pilots. Peter Rohan from Rohan Flying Services, and Richard Nesseler, the chief pilot of 12 Apostles Helicopters, into the Year 9/10 Aerodynamics and Flight Science elective classroom to conclude our studies with practical examples of the principles of flight. COVID restrictions has meant that this was ‘grounded’ so Peter and Richard graciously allowed us to record them as they explained the features and controls used to fly a plane and helicopter. Despite the obvious differences there were many similarities including the cockpit instruments to inform the flight path, and the need to control the pitch, roll and yaw of the aircraft, the aerodynamic design, the need to reduce drag and use of materials that made the aircraft as light, yet strong as possible in order to make gains in either payload or passengers in flight. Peter and Richard encouraged students who were interested in flying to learn as much as they could and get practical experience around airfields or working with or talking to pilots. What a great way to conclude the semester, thanks Richard and Peter! One of the tasks for your Year 7 Science students involved in the Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition was to design a Plant Health Mind Map. Mind maps convert what would generally be a long list of information into a colorful and organized diagram that works in line with the way your brain naturally does things. Check out these brilliant mind maps that convey information on this semester’s Plant Health investigations including our visit from agronomists Glenn Cain and Lucy Powell who explained about the requirements of a healthy crop, the farm crop excursion, types of crops, our salinity, germination and light experiments and Dr John Harrison, the apothecary who described how plants can be used for our health. |
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April 2024
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