Information for Teachers

The School of Science and Engineering has developed a number of programs for primary and secondary schools. Many of these are available at no charge and cover a wide range of topics in the science curriculum.

Several of the programs described on this site are suitable, with minor adaptations, for use at year levels other than those specified.

Middle Years (5-8) Programs

• Box of Rocks: Borrow them for a term, complete with related information sheets, worksheets and a talk from a visiting geologist.
  
  
• Growing an Indigenous Garden: All you need to know about accessing and raising plants from local seed. Cheap landscaping for the school ground.
  
  
• Mt. Buninyong Geology Excursion: Explore the history of our most famous landmark and relate land use to soil type.
  
  
• Professor Gizmo's Gadgets: introducing the physical sciences to students through exploration and play with toys and working models link to Professor Gizmo
  
  
• Professor Gizmo's Robots (ASISTM): Students construct and operate robots whilst learning about simple machines and the value of co-operative work.
  
  
• Rock around the Block: A walking tour of Sturt Street looking at the use of rock in construction and decoration of buildings and statues.
  
  

Year 9/10 Programs

• Australian Student Mineral Venture (ASMV) NEW: Tours of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for year 10 - 11 students interested in discovering more about careers in the Mining Industry.
  
  
• Ballarat District Geology Excursion: Bus tour of the district taking in the significant sites which help students piece together the geological history of Ballarat.
  
  
• Box of Rocks: Borrow them for a term, complete with related information sheets, worksheets and a talk from a visiting geologist.
  
  
• Educating for a Sustainable Future: Case studies providing examples of how environmentally sustainable practices can be successfully embraced by schools, businesses, industry and local government.
  
  
• Food Industry Science: Developed in partnership with DE&T, this semester-length unit is well suited as a science elective. Practical examination of issues such as nutrition, hygiene, packaging and marketing faced by the food industry in the development of new product.
  
  
• Mt. Buninyong Environmental Studies: Briefly explores the geological history of the mountain and engages students in an ecological study of the crater and summit.
  
  
• Nestboxes in your Neighbourhood: Have you a woodland or forest which could provide habitat for wildlife? No hollows? Encourage the return of possums. birds, and small mammals by getting students to build, erect and maintain nestboxes.
  
  
• Professor Gizmo's Robots (ASISTM): Students construct and operate simple electrical generators and race battery-powered cars.
  
  
• Rock around the Block: A walking tour of Sturt Street looking at the use of rock in construction and decoration of buildings and statues.
  
  
• Switch on to Physics (SotP): A 2 hour workshop at the university for year 10 science students. The workshop covers optics and electronics.
  
  
• The New Golden Triangle (ASISTM): The science behind the mining industry - geology chemistry (metallurgy), physics and environmental sciences.
  
  

VCE Programs

• Australian Student Mineral Venture (ASMV) NEW: Tours of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania for year 10 - 11 students interested in discovering more about careers in the Mining Industry.
  
  
• Biology Seminar and Conference program: An initiative which introduces students to current research and local researchers in botany, fauna studies, ecology and environmental management.
  
  
• Educating for a Sustainable Future: Case studies providing examples of how environmentally sustainable practices can be successfully embraced by schools, businesses, industry and local government.
  
  
• Instrumentation in Chemistry: In the last seven years over two thousand Unit 3 Chemistry students have experienced emission and absorption spectroscopy and gas chromatography in use in analytical laboratories.
  
  
• Structures and Materials: Students explore equilibrium and stability of various structures and test elasticity and failure in a variety of building materials.
  
  
• Wildlife Projects: A number of programs suitable for VCE Biology or Environmental Science Classes.