During Science Week at IGS, the 2024 National Science Week theme, Species Survival, took centre stage. High School students from Years 8 and 11 teamed up with Early Learning Centre (ELC) children to investigate how urban environments, such as cities, impact bird species by removing trees and wetlands, leading to significant changes in their lives.
Year 11 students kicked off the event with a talk about the many birds seen around the IGS buildings, including sulfur-crested cockatoos and white ibis. They explained how these birds have adapted to urban life, particularly in areas like Ultimo, where they use their behaviour, and the shape and size of their beaks, to find food.
Following the talk, Year 11 and Year 8 students led the children through hands-on activities that brought these concepts to life. They investigated how the unique beak shapes of cockatoos and ibis help them thrive in urban environments, observed the process of melting ice and explored the interaction between oil and water.
Reflecting on the activity, students shared their thoughts:
Maya
I found it really fun to engage with the little ones, as we often don’t get the chance to in High School, and teach them science concepts through fun and interactive activities.
Mia
I loved inspiring curiosity and excitement in the ELC when guiding the children through fun and engaging activities for science week.
Darcy
It was really fun to see even the shy or quiet kids growing in confidence and being enthusiastic and involved in the experiments.
This collaborative experience not only deepened the ELC childrens’ understanding of scientific concepts but also highlighted the importance of species survival in our changing environment.