Term 2 so far has been a wonderful learning experience in the Sciences at Mount Carmel. Our students have been expanding their scientific knowledge to unlock endless possibilities towards shaping a better future for themselves, as their young minds venture into the realm of scientific exploration. The science teachers at Mount Carmel have been guiding students on how to ignite their curiosity, foster critical thinking, and nurture a love for scientific inquiry.

On Thursday 18th May, some of our students in Years 7 to 10 participated in the Big Science Competition. This competition aims to test and challenge students' scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills. It encourages students to apply their scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities to real-world scenarios. The competition was organised by Mrs Hili and Ms Hynes. Students will receive their results and certificates in Term 3.  We wish our participants all the best!

Year 7 students are in awe and wonder as they explore the ‘unseen world’ using their microscopes this term. They have learnt how to properly use a microscope to view tiny specimens such as onion, cheek and blood cells. This will build upon their knowledge on the structure and function of plant and animal cells. Our year 7 students are also super excited about their upcoming excursion to the Western Sydney Zoo in week 9. They cannot wait to visit the zoo to have an amazing day learning about animal classification and adaptations! Parental consent for this excursion is to be completed by all parents via compass, by June 13 2023.

Year 8 students have been quite busy with their scalpels and forceps this term! They have been dissecting sheep hearts, kidneys and chicken wings, as they explore a wonderful journey through the human body to learn about various body systems.

Year 9 students have become microbiologists as they explore the microbial world to learn more about pathogens and diseases  in their current Living World topic. Students have been investigating microbes by growing them on agar plates, inside an incubator. They have taken swabs of surfaces such as the bubblers, their phones and door knobs to find out whether these surfaces are ‘clean’ or infested with bacteria. Their results have been mind-blowing!

Year 10 students are enjoying their current topic on atoms and radioactivity. This topic will give them an insight into Chemistry as a possible subject choice for their year 11 studies. Students have been building atomic models to learn about atoms and ions. They have also created wonderful posters to demonstrate their understanding of the history of the development of the atomic model. Students will expand their knowledge further as they learn about radioisotopes and radioactivity in the coming weeks. They will investigate the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear disasters to learn how radioactivity can be a ‘double-edged’ sword, as they explore its dual nature of benefits and risks.

These wonderful learning experiences at Mount Carmel have surely ignited a deep appreciation for the wonders of the natural world within our students. Through hands-on experiments and real-world applications, our science teachers have created an environment where scientific knowledge continues to flourish.