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Newsletter number 12: October 2016
The Geoscience Pathways Project
The Geoscience
Pathways Project
(GPP) is a ‘not-for-
profit’ incorporated body of like-minded teachers
and geoscientists. We
work together to enhance the teaching and learning of the geosciences in SA
schools. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors we
offer member schools unique and timely support for the teaching of the ‘Earth and Space’ strand of the
Australian Science Curriculum across primary and
secondary year levels. Currently, we have a special
focus on promoting and supporting uptake of the new SACE Earth and Environmental Science courses,
which will be available for implementation in SA
schools in 2017 and 2018.
New $10,000 from the Dept of State Development
In his recent communication the Minister wrote:
“I offer my congratulations on the achievements of
the Geoscience Pathways Project. The development of new geoscience materials and support given to
teachers through this program is invaluable. I was
also pleased to hear about your work in the development of the new Earth and Environmental
Science subject that will become an option for senior
students in 2017. Young people who choose to study
this subject will be equipped with scientific knowledge to address some of the most challenging
issues that we face around development and
sustainability, building understanding in the workplace and in communities to ensure the future
prosperity of our state”
Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy
Professional Development Opportunities Friday 25th November: a workshop entitled “New Opportunities for teaching and
learning in SACE Earth and Environmental Science” presented by Len Altman and Kelly Sharrad at SASTA’s
annual STEM Conference, at Playford International
College. For conference details and registration visit: http://www.sasta.asn.au/professional_learning/stem_6_11_conference
Thursday & Friday 1st/ 2nd December: at Marden Senior College, Marden Road Marden:
TESEP’s “Round and Round with Rocks” presented by
Kelly Sharrad, will include the launch of our new unit “Opals for Year 8 Science “ (Cynthia Pyle), and
“Teaching About Climate Change” which will include a
field trip to Hallett Cove (led by Kelly Sharrad).
Friday presentations will include: the ‘Climate Reality Project” (presented by Ian Tooley)
and TESEP’s ‘Riding the Climate Roller Coaster’
(presented by Greg McNamara).
For more information and registration visit: www.geosciencepathways.org.au
Friday 9th December, 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the EDC in
Hindmarsh: “New Opportunities for teaching and learning
in SACE Earth and Environmental Science” Special guest speakers will include:
Prof. Robert Hill, Dean of Science, Univ. of Adelaide,
Prof. Okke Batelaan, Dean of the School of
Environment Flinders Univ.,
John Mignone, Community Education Service, DSD,
Michael Yeo, Adelaide Botanic Garden’s Education
Officer (manager of the SEEDS Project)
Ian Tooley, Climate Reality Project
For more information and registration visit: http://www.sasta.asn.au/professional_learning/new_sace_stage_1_workshop
Newsletter number 12: October 2016
Attention (5-9) Science Teachers Would you like to increase your student interest
and engagement in science?
Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our sponsors, the
Geoscience Pathways Project continues to offer fully
funded teacher mentoring to our member schools.
Equipment for loan A range of special equipment is available on loan to
our member schools. These include class sets of compass/clinometers, GPS units, gold pans and our
“Quake Caster”. (see photos below)
Our “QuakeCaster” has been adapted from a design by the USGS. It can be used to enhance inquiry based
learning about earthquakes. It is an ideal apparatus for
facilitating a ‘design-prac’ for SACE Geology
students, or for an engaging plate tectonics activity for Year 9’s.
Other equipment available for short term loan :
Garmin 60 GPS units Suunto compasses (include clinometers)
Gold pans
Earthquake and seismometer activities are available at Marden Senior College, by arrangement.
Our project can also arrange and provide subsidies for the
cost of student buses to participate in activities at Flinders
University, in their groundwater hydrology laboratory.
This activity has been hugely successful with classes of
Year 7 students, as part of their studies of the ‘Water’ topic.
Our Management Committee: o Chair: Len Altman (MSC / GSA)
o Secretary & webmaster: Amanda Vernik
o Treasurer: Kelly Sharrad (teacher/ geologist)
o Margaret Baxter (Open Access College)
o Alan Collins (University of Adelaide/ GSA)
o Mike Roach (Hamilton Secondary College)
o Katrina Holmes (Blackwood High School)
o Di Whitington (Open Access College)
o Cynthia Pyle (former SACE Board)
o Peta Abbot (DSD teacher/ geologist)
o Stephen Batten (SACOME)
o Bronwyn Mart (Magill Primary School)
o Christine Thomson (DECD)
o Peter Turnbull (former DECD advisor)
Management Committee
meeting:
Tues. 8th November from 4:00 pm, in the Geol. lab. at Marden Senior College
Please RSVP: [email protected]
All of our teacher members are welcome to attend
committee meetings and/or make written submissions.
Joining Geoscience Pathways is free Contact our webmaster for instructions
Amanda: [email protected]
Kelly Sharrad is our mentor-teacher-geologist.
She can work directly with teachers and students in
a range of engaging classroom or laboratory
activities and field investigations/ excursions to suit
the Australian Science Curriculum from years 5 - 9
Newsletter number 12: October 2016
Did you know that Australia produces 96% of the
world’s opals and South Australia produces 86% of that. Opals deserve a place in the science curriculum
in SA, particularly in Year 8 ‘Rocks and Minerals’
Would your Year 8 students be interested in hands-on activities with opals as part of their study of
rocks and minerals? This newly developed unit will
be launched at a PD workshop on 1st Dec., (see page
1).
Looking for something new in Science as a
Human Endeavour and STEM careers?
The Schmidt Ocean Institute have provided a range of
great videos and other educational resources.
See their excellent summary video:
http://schmidtocean.org/about/our-story/
Virtual Field Trip
Adelaide time: Thurs. 20 October 2016 at 4:30 AM
Join Earth Echo International and Schmidt Ocean Institute
aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Falkor as we explore the
many different types of jobs that keep a ship like the Falkor
running. From scientists, to captains, and cooks, we’ll
explore the many ways to have a career on the ocean.
http://earthecho.org/news/virtual-field-trip-
careers-at-sea-with-schmidt-ocean-institute purpo
Our project can arrange visits and provide bus subsidies
for activities at the University of Adelaide, designed to enhance the learning of Year 9 students studying the topic
of ‘Plate Tectonics’. The practical activity “Plate
Tectonics in a box” has been particularly well received.
Professor Alan Collins of the Centre for Tectonics
Resources and Exploration together with PhD Candidate Morgan Blades kindly offer half day workshops to suit
Year 9 Science students. These can be arranged through
your membership of the GPP and bus subsidies may
apply.
Consider the following recommendation: I want to let you know how good the Plate Tectonics workshop was today. The students were engaged in the lead up presentation and also in the hands on plate tectonics in a box, where each group of 3 or 4 students did their own, along with measuring. Alan was very engaging with the students, and his undergraduate students and PhD candidates worked really well guiding the students in the practical. I would strongly recommend this to other schools to take advantage of this opportunity. Keith Lavers, Yankalilla Area School
Rock and Mineral Samples for Schools
The Dean of Physical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, Sandy Steacy, has indicated that there may be a range of
geological samples that could potentially be made available to
schools.
These will be shifted and sorted from storage at Thebarton. Our
Geoscience Pathways Project has agreed to be a conduit for the
distribution of these samples, when they become available.
Please address your expressions of interest in receiving such
samples for your school to Len Altman: [email protected]
