National Science Week begins soon – how will your service participate?

National Science Week, which runs annually in August, begins next week, with thousands of in person and virtual opportunities for ECEC services to get involved and explore the big topics, brilliant minds and unexpected ideas from the world of science.

 

In 2021 National Science Week will run from 14 to 22 August, with many schools and early learning services around Australia holding “Brain Break” science themed morning tea and Zoom catch ups, while in parts of Australia where COVID restrictions permit, in person events offer an opportunity to explore science in a hands on fashion. 

 

More than 250 schools and early learning settings around the country were awarded funding to support their activities during National Science Week this year, including Koala Playschool in the ACT, Pottsville Community Preschool in New South Wales, and Samford Community Kindergarten in Queensland. 

 

South Australian educators may wish to join in with the singing palaeontologist Professor Flint, as he explores the question “how does a dinosaur grow to 20 tonnes on a vegetarian diet?”

 

There are a number of resources available on the ScienceWeek website, many of which can be adapted for use in the early years. These playing cards, for example, celebrate the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (2021) by raising awareness of the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health.

 

The card suits represent:

 

♥ Tropical fruits and nuts

♠ Temperate fruits

♦ Australian Indigenous fruits, vegetables and nuts

♣ Vegetables.

 

Older children can engage with the cards by comparing the values of the energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat or dietary fibre in their hand of cards, while younger children may enjoy the cards with assistance from educators, discussing the images and printed information featured on each card. 

 

National Science Week began in 1997. Last year about 1.1 million people participated in more than 1200 events — despite a global pandemic — exploring topics from art to astrophysics, chemistry to climate change, and forensics to fermented food.

 

National Science Week is proudly supported by the Australian Government, CSIRO, the Australian Science Teachers Association, the ABC, and Cosmos magazine.

 

To find events relevant to your local area, please see here.