Science Investigation Awards - Teacher Information
Dear SIA Teachers,
Please see resources on the side with details regarding this year’s Science Investigation Awards (SIA) at The University of Western Australia (UWA).
Resource Documents include;
1. Expression of Interest Form – needs to be sent back with full school involvement details
2. SIA Teacher Workshop flyer – at least one teacher from each school is requested to attend.
3. SIA Workshop program – you will be able to collect your materials at the workshop. More than one teacher from each school is welcomed.
4. SIA dates to remember – here you will see all dates involved with the SIA program including closing dates.
This year I am aiming to come out to your schools/classrooms and have two class visits. One to get your class started if they haven’t already; one to see how they are going throughout the term; and/or at the end of their investigations to practice their presentations. Please contact us to book this school visit time in. It would be great to come and visit the classes the same day that I come to present to your year 11 and 12 classes if possible.
If you are running your own SIA in school I would love to attend and assist if you would like me to. I could be the photographer if you like. That way I get to see and meet loads of people involved in putting your wonderful science and SIA programs together and see all of the investigations! ☺
I look forward to hearing from your SIA ‘Link Teacher’ soon with your schools Expression of Interest form and to book into the free SIA Teacher Workshop.
Happy investigating! ☺
Belinda Pope
What are the Awards?
The PICSE UWA Science Investigation Awards (SIA) are an opportunity for year 8, 9 and 10 students to investigate a topic and hypothesis of their choice, to find out answers with a hands on and fun approach to science. Winning investigations will receive cash prizes of up to $500. Students simply pick a science topic that interests them, pose a hypothesis, carry out experiments and work to answer their question using scientific methodology (its really like Myth Busters!).
Students then present their findings as a poster (presentation board) and report. Schools then host their own in school Science Investigation Awards where the three winners from each year group entered will be selected to attend the PICSE UWA SIA. These students then attend the event at UWA with their poster and the report and are entered into the awards to win up to $500 cash for their investigation. They will be judged by scientists and industry representatives who select winners based on:
Scientific method – Click on Science Investigation Report for guidance
Scientific report – Click on Tips for Report Writing for guidance
Visual display – Click on Tips for Visual Display for guidance
**At least one of the three winning investigations attending the PICSE UWA SIA must be related to Agriculture. Selected students/investigations details are to be submitted to PICSE UWA by June 24th 2011.
Who can enter?
The Science Investigation Awards are open to any student in year 8, 9 and 10 from any school in the Great Southern or Perth Metropolitan areas of Western Australia. Fill out the Expression of Interest Form and send it to picse-fnas@uwa.edu.au or fax to 6488 1002 by the end of term 1.
Can students win prizes?
Yes! Students report and poster will be judged by industry scientists at the Science Investigation Awards at UWA – students have the chance to win prizes of up to $500! There are a number of awards that judges will be presenting on the day so there will be lots of cash prizes to be won!
Why should a teacher enter their class?
The Science Investigation Awards are a great way for students to show off and improve their science skills and get involved in real-life science, individually or as a pair. This is a great chance for students to answer that burning question and to have fun with science in an area that interests them. Students will gain valuable skills, solve problems, work with other students, meet scientists , complete an assessment while having fun, learn a lot and maybe even win some cash prizes! (Prizes range from $50 to $500.)
What do students need to do?
Students will need to plan, conduct and report on an investigation of their choice! The topic for their investigation is completely up to them but they must check with their teacher first. Check out the Science Investigation Report link to assist the students to make sure they are on the right track. (HINT: this is what the judge’s use as a score sheet. Make sure students cover all areas!) If they are stuck for ideas on what to investigate, they can check out Ideas for Investigations as a guide, however it is best if the investigation is on a topic that interests them, and they will need to design the experiment themselves. They can work individually or as a pair. Students then need to carry out their investigations, write up a scientific report and present their investigation and finding s on a presentation board to be judged in school. Selected investigations and students (top 3 investigations – at least one being related to agriculture) are to attend the PICSE UWA SIA on Tuesday 5th July and present to judges. Winners will receive up to $500 for their investigation at the Awards Ceremony that evening.
What help do the students and teachers get?
The teacher is there to help guide and support the students and answer any questions that they may have. Teachers should also provide students with the appropriate PICSE resources (Student Information Booklet) to make sure the students are on the right track and to follow all instructions. It is up to the school who is to provide the materials for the students, whether the school or students are responsible for this, or a combination of both.
Teachers are invited to attend SIA Professional Development to gain valuable resources, contacts, ideas, get excited and to get started. All schools who attend this SIA PD will be provided with an overview of the program, in school and at the PICSE UWA SIA, assistance with running the program, receive a number of valuable resources to keep, presentation boards and information to get your class started. Teachers will also have a contact list of teachers who have been named ‘PICSE Champions’ for their previous involvement in the program who are happy to offer assistance to SIA teachers. You will also be able to contact your PICSE Science Education Officer Belinda Pope, who is also able to assist teachers throughout the investigations by email or phone. Belinda will come and visit your class to introduce the Science Investigation Awards, to show the class how it all works, get the students excited and to get them started.
Schools need to discuss with PICSE UWA about the supply of a presentation board and header board for each investigation for students to present on for the event. Other materials that maybe required for their investigation and presentation board are to be discussed with the student and teacher.
At the PICSE UWA SIA investigations will be judged, there will be hands on science activities for students to be involved in on the day, a UWA campus tour, opportunities to speak with scientists at UWA and from industry, as well as attend the Awards Ceremony where winners will be announced and prizes handed out. The Science Investigation Awards are a great event and schools really don’t want to miss out!
What is the next step if a school wants to be involved?
Schools need to fill out and Expression of Interest Form and send it to PICSE UWA by Wednesday the 6th of April. You can contact Belinda Pope (details below) and plan a time to discuss how the program will work best for the teacher and the class. All of this information will be outlined at the SIA Teacher Professional Development session. The form for this is available at www.picse.net/UWA. the SIA is a great way to get the most out of our science program to promote fun with science, open learning and effective and valuable assessment.
If you would like to register or find out more contact PICSE UWA on
Phone: M: 0425 891 689 W: 6488 1788Email: picse-fnas@uwa.edu.au.