Activities for High Schools

Scienza Viva is a program developed to actively engage students in the process of science.

The presenters of Scienza Viva (Dr Effie and Chris Howe) are both scientists. Effie is also a secondary science teacher. We don’t use casual presenters.

Scienza Viva brings "hands on" scientific activities to primary and high schools, that are directly related to the school syllabus. All our practical incursions are run a class at a time (about 30 students), and run for one hour.

All materials, instruments and teachers' notes are provided. We provide a set of detailed work notes for students about a week before, for copying and distribution by the school.

What activities do we offer?

Stage 4

1. Life in Different Environments

During this practical, students will observe live invertebrates in terrestrial and aquatic environments. They will classify and key out selected animals in each of these, and compare the adaptations to their environments. In addition, they will investigate the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors (e.g. pH, salinity) in an ecosystem. They will create simple food chains and a food web using the animals they observe. This station activity will include phasmids, compost organisms, Artemia, and aquatic samples. This supports Outcomes SC4-LIV-01 and SC4-CLS-01.

2. Forces Everywhere

Students conduct a number of brief mini-experiments to investigate the nature and types of forces around us. During this hands on session they will identify forces as either direct (contact) or indirect (non-contact), and investigate the effects of a range of direct and indirect forces, including electrostatic and gravitational forces, and how permanent magnets and electromagnets compare in their actions on materials around them. This supports Outcomes SC4-FOR-01 and Working Scientifically.

3. Young Forensics

Students rotate around seven hands on stations to collect evidence in a fictional murder, and propose and justify a solution to the case by collating and analysing the data. They collect evidence from chromatography, chemistry, biology, physical and trace evidence, and microscopy. This supports the Working Scientifically SC4-WS Outcomes.

4. Let’s Find Out Science Show

This one hour, interactive show allows Stage 4 students to engage with aspects of biology, physics and chemistry in a larger group setting of ~100 students. It could be used as an economical end of year activity, or to engage students coming into science as a subject.

Stage 5

1. Pollution and Environment

We base this one hour activity on the effects of pollution on aquatic environments, with examples of small live specimens. Over a series of stations, students consider plastic use, plastic types, recycling and problems, including microplastics, as well as other causes of environmental pollution, such as oil pollution, silting and turbidity and pH. and discuss its implications. Students also use models of alternatives to the current resource use. This activity supports topics in Outcome SC5-ENV-01.

2. Practical Exercises in Alternative Energy

Students use a hands on approach to evaluate a number of different models for generating energy. These include solar, wind, hydro power and mechanical generation, comparing these models with current dominant energy sources. They use practical measurements to evaluate insulation and radiative heating in buildings. This activity supports topics in Outcome SC5-EGY-01.

3. Electrical Energy

Students undertake a series of exercises to identify the elements of a complete circuit including constructing circuits, identifying polarity, and generating electrical energy from physical and chemical processes, measuring the voltage that arises. They also examine the use of photovoltaics to generate electrical energy, and the relationship of electricity and magnetism in electromagnets. This activity supports topics in Outcome SC5-EGY-01.

4. Investigations in Forensic Science

Students solve a fictional crime using a number of practical activities including DNA profiling, fingerprints and trace evidence, footwear marks, microscopy, chromatography and chemical analysis. They are required to collate their findings and critically justify their conclusion, following a planned procedure, in line with SC5-WS Outcomes.

Costs and Conditions

All these incursions, except for the Let’s Find Out Science Show, are run a class at a time (about 30 students). They run for one hour. The cost is $240 (no GST) per one hour session for up to 30 students, and $8.00 for any additional student attending. The Let’s Find Out Science Show is $400 (no GST) per one hour session, and is designed for about 100 students. Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have further questions about anything we offer or would like to place a booking.

Who conducts Scienza Viva activities?

Effie Howe BAppSc (Environmental Science), MSc (Physiology), PhD (Fish ecology), GradDipEd (Secondary science).

Effie has over 20 years experience as a working scientist in universities and CSIRO, with publications in aquatic biology, physiology, biochemistry and biotechnology. She has accumulated a broad range of experience in field biology and in laboratory investigation and has been privileged to work in a diverse range of research environments.
As well as bringing these activities to preschools, primary schools and high schools, Effie’s teaching experience includes developing and teaching environmental biology and biology courses at TAFE colleges and Universities.

Chris Howe, BSc (Zoology/Biochemistry), MSc(Med) (Physiology).

Chris has over 20 years experience as a working scientist in biomedical research, in hospitals and universities. Subsequently, he worked for twelve years as a specialist analyst in doping control at the National Measurement Institute in Sydney. He has a deep interest in all areas of science and the communication of science. Chris has presented research in many settings, from schools to international research conferences and has publications in endocrinology, reproductive medicine, cancer research, physiology and doping control.

Please contact Effie or Chris for further information or bookings

Email:effiehowe@scienzaviva.com.au

Ph 0408 460 948 (Effie) or 0448 183 967 (Chris)