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Science @ Pt England School
Science is a way of investigating, understanding, and explaining our natural, physical world and the wider universe. It involves generating and testing ideas, gathering evidence – including by making observations, carrying out investigations and modelling, and communicating and debating with others – in order to develop scientific knowledge, understanding, and explanations. Scientific progress comes from logical, systematic work and from creative insight, built on a foundation of respect for evidence. Different cultures and periods of history have contributed to the development of science.
By the end of Year 8 our students will be:
developing an understanding of the world, built on scientific theories
have been exposed to all strand of science and be learning that science involves particular processes and ways of developing and organising knowledge.
growing their capabilities to use their current scientific knowledge and skills for problem solving and growing their own knowledge and science capabilities.
developing their use of scientific knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about the communication, application, and implications of science as these relate to their own lives and cultures and to the sustainability of the environment.
To see an in-depth example of how we integrate science please check out the website - Science at Pt England School
Kuwharuwharu Longfin Eel Conservation Project
Sandy's Extension Blogpost with Movie and Mahu
paideia seminars
The Makerspace hosts 15 endangered Kuwharuwharu juvenile long finned eels in a 1000 litre tank. These animals are being fed, strengthened and monitored before their release into the neighbouring Tāmaki Estuary to swim back to Tonga for breeding.
learners are able to both interact directly with the endemic fish but are also able to digitally monitor the temperature, oxygen ph levels in the tank. This information is shared with our community through the website to provide other schools the opportunity to use this data for scientific study.
We are very grateful to Ngati Paoa, Auckland University, David Cooper an expert in New Zealand freshwater fish, and South Sci for enabling us to be part of this wonderful project and learning opportunity.
Movie Attribution: Crown Copyright © Participatory Science Platform (PSP) CC-by-4.0’
South Science Partnership Opportunities
We are very blessed to be involved in three partnerships with MBIE’s South Sci, two of which are also Iwi partnerships and work regularly with Tāmaki WRAP, a local waste reduction initiative and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. The Makerspace and Creative Space learning involves inviting experts in the fields of Science to collaborate with learners and provide Professional Development for our staff.
Bincurity Recycling
Link to Curious Minds Bincurity Video
Our Makerspace teacher has facilitated the introduction of recycling in Pt England School including the recycling of Soft Plastics. Our learners have been very involved in designing and carrying out not only the sorting of rubbish but the environmental reasoning behind their action, educating their peers and community. We have partnered with Both Auckland Council’s Sustainable Schools team and Tāmaki WRAP, a local waste reduction programme to educate learners about environmental protection, especially of our local waterways.
Robotics Rōpū
Learners have been finding out about engineering and robotics with engineers from Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in the Makerspace, working on the design and build of a "smart rubbish bin" to assist Bincurity. Skills taught include prototyping, physics, circuitry, coding, automation and 3D printing.
We are proud to be taking part in Curious Minds’ Participatory Science Platform- encouraging science outside the lab which has assisted us with our Bincurity Recycling, Robotics Rōpū Eel projects and are appreciative for the support from The Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor and MBIE.
3D Printing
Our Makerspace time is utilised to teach the design of objects using CAD software and print them out in the school. We have a high quality and learner friendly machine, and integrate the teaching of changes in matter as well as the Digital Technologies. The printer is also used by the Robotics Rōpū to test and build components for their project.
Gardening
Our Year 2 learners use their time in the Makerspace to learn horticulture through the use of their garden beds. Learners are learning about the natural world by growing, harvesting and eating their own vegetables. Our Year 1 learners have been planting flowers and plants outside their classrooms during Makerspace to attract insects, including bees and butterflies to study the living world closeup. The Makerspace, in partnership with Tamaki WRAP and Sport Auckland’s Active Family programme also facilitates a Mahi Māra Garden Club where learners of all ages and their whānau are rejuvenating old garden beds to plant crops to care for, learn the fundamentals of botanics and harvest.
Genomics Study
We are just beginning a Genomics study with Auckland University, South Science and Ngati Paoa, where the focus will be a genomic study of the organisms living in Omaru Creek, the waterway next to the school which feeds the Tāmaki Estuary. We are so pleased to be involved in these partnership aqua-culture projects that are giving our learners the opportunity to work with real scientists, real science work and to understand and solve real world problems.
Coding
Makey Makey music coding photo 2017
We have embraced coding classes and clubs at Pt England. Students are given the opportunity to learn coding from years 2 to 8 during Creative Space and Makerspace classes as well as clubs in conjunction with Code Club Aotearoa. Our Robotics Rōpū are integrating coding into the machines they are making for the school. We work closely with OMGTech! to extend our teachers’ and students’ knowledge and functional use of code.
Science is taught as an Integrated Inquiry that has a school wide theme or context. Teams plan collaboratively and provide authentic and relevant contexts for learning considering our rich local environment as appropriate. Over the 8 years children attend Pt England School a thorough and balanced coverage of the Science Curriculum occurs.
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