High school workshop materials

Crystal Clear: effective water filtration for the modern engine

Year: 8-10 science extension classes

Year: 11-12 chemistry, biology and engineering technology classes

Time required: 70 minutes

This workshop is designed to demonstrate the complexity of water treatment and the role of the water cycle in maintaining life on earth. Students bench test water treatment methods to investigate their efficiency. This workshop develops science inquiry skills through the use of testing methods, collection and analysis of experimental data and evaluating evidence.

• Teacher worksheet for the Crystal Clear workshop (PDF file, 793KB)
• Student worksheet for the Crystal Clear workshop (PDF file, 474KB)

Successful Suspension: bridges that work, and why

Year: 8-10 science extension

Year 11-12 physics and engineering technology classes

Time required: 70 minutes

This workshop is designed to teach how bridges are designed to withstand loads and forces. Students build model bridges to investigate how the structure of different bridge types is designed to cope with the loads placed on the bridge. It develops science inquiry skills using model building, observing and measuring, analysing results and developing explanations.

• Teacher worksheet for the Successful Suspension workshop (PDF file, 985KB)
• Student worksheet for the Successful Suspension workshop (PDF file, 1708KB)

Using Force for Good

Year: 11-12 physics and engineering technology classes

Time required: 70 minutes

This workshop provides an introduction to the world of engineering through the principles of forces, equilibrium, moments and couples. Students physically model moments and couples and then compare their data to data collated using formulae. The workshop develops science inquiry skills using model building, observing and measuring, analysing results and developing explanations.

• Teacher worksheet for Using Force for Good workshop (PDF file, 578KB)
• Student worksheet for Using Force for Good workshop (PDF file, 626KB)
• Activity sheet for Using Force for Good workshop (PDF file, 31KB)

Sun Boost

Year: 9-10 science classes

Time required: 70 minutes

This workshop introduces students to problem solving, solar energy generation and its importance in saving lives following natural disasters. Students investigate how the properties of light influence power generation. The workshop develops science inquiry skills by using specialist equipment, observing and measuring, analysing results and developing explanations.

• Student worksheet for the Sun Boost workshop (PDF file, 967.93 KB)

Harden Up!

Year: 11-12 Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology and Design and construction classes.

Time required: 70 minutes

This workshop introduces students to the basic engineering principles of concrete construction and utilise those principles to make concrete beams. All workshop materials and equipment are supplied.

• Teacher guide for Harden Up workshop (PDF file, 922KB)
• Student worksheet for Harden Up workshop (PDF file, 567KB)

Crime scenes and genes

Year level: 8–10 extension, 11–12 Biology

Time required: 70 minutes

Capitalising on current interest in all things forensic. In this workshop students apply biotechnology techniques to solve crimes. Using DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, students match samples from suspects to crime scenes and explore the use of DNA for crime scene analysis.

• Student worksheet for Crime scenes and genes (PDF file, 209KB)

Discovering nanotechnology

Year level: 8–10 extension, 11–12 Chemistry

Time required: 70 minutes

Explore disease diagnosis through the use of bioassays and determination of detection limits for pathogens. Students develop a better understanding of the nano-scale and investigate applications of nanotechnology.

• Student worksheet for Discovering nanotechnology (PDF file, 147KB)

*consider these workshops for your geography, chemistry & physics classes as well as engineering technology.