Australia's Science Forum

Hi all!

My school wants to start having some science competitions every term or so, and the Head teacher has chosen ME to come up with ideas for it What are you doing at your schools, would appreciate any help I can get, cause so far all I can think of is an egg drop comp, and since I HATE the smell of raw eggs I really dont want to do that one...

Sassi

Hi!!

One of our classes recently designed there own paper aeroplanes, had to build them and fly them to see how far they flew. Another idea is bridge building. We also had a class use hard boiled eggs and then had to design and build protection for it to stop the shell breaking when you drop it.( this was an eg. of push bike helmets).
Crystal growing.

Lorrae

We have done the ubiquitous "Poster Competition"

Last term, we had a "Mouse trap powered car" competition. They had to design a toy car powered only by an old wooden type mouse trap. There were prizes for the car that went the furthest, for most original design, prettiest design, etc

Then there is the annual "UNSW Science Competition", which is an Exam style competition that is Australasia wide. It costs a few $ per student, but they get a neat certificate from UNSW that looks almost as good as a degree from that Uni!

Then there is the STANSW Young Scientist Competition.

Hope this helps

Ian

We give our yr.8 mouse traps (or last year we bought solar panels) and kids have to design and build a racing vehicle. Usually work in pairs. There two categories
one the fastest car and second, the car that travels the longest distance.
With the mouse traps, they cannot use elastic bands etc, must use the force from the trap.They have to do the research from internet.
Lada

Solar cars/boats
Gas powered cars
Water rockets
Trebuchets
Mousetrap cars
Newspaper bridge
Spagetti bridge
Straw bridge
Building a seat out of newspaper
Building a tower out of a single newspaper and a certain length of tape

I tried to run a paper aeroplane comp. in a Grade 8 class (not in science) to whom I was pretending that I was the teacher. The kids were interested in it and started making them and then the real teacher walked in, he didn't seem too impressed really.

Anyone got a Risk Assessment for mouse-trap cars?

I'm with Andrew on water rockets. Dramatic, heaps of fun and simple to make.

Torches from scratch - give them batteries, bulb, leads, alfoil, cardboard rolls.

Torches- what a great idea

Hi!!
I have a fantastic work sheet for making "Glow worm" Torches from CSIRO.
Our Yr8 kids made them earlier in the year and decorated them. We ahd scorpions and bumble bees and all sorts of fantastic bugs.
I can fax you the details if you like.

Lorrae

Hi Lorrae, can you please fax me the glow worm info
Fax 03 50246631 att Narelle

Thanks heaps
Narelle Divola
Irymple Secondary College

Thank you all for your wonderful ideas, this website is sooooo helpful! Lorrae I would love if you could fax me the details for the glow worms, my fax is 02 9959 4460 Attention Sanscha Aberg.

Thanks a million!

Hi Narelle and Sanscha,

I have faxed that info .

Lorrae

Hi Lorrae
Would it be possible to fax me a copy of the glow worm torch please? Sounds great. My fax is 02-44231086.
Thanks
Rita

Hi Lorrae, thank you for the fax. We hope to try it out in the last weeks of school to keep the little darlings busy.
Cheers
Narelle Divola

Hi Lorrae,
Could I possibly have a copy of the glow worm torch too?
Fax 02 9869 8521
Thanks so much.
Helen

Hi Lorrae,

May I also join the band wagon, for a copy of glow worm's
to Sue 9823 7662

Thank you so much

Hi Lorrae, I havent recieved my copy. I think the office may have lost it... Would you be able to send it again, please??? To Sanscha Aberg Science Dept 02 9959 4460

Thanks again

Hi Helen, Sue and Sanscha,

I have sent the faxes for the glow worm circuits.

Lorrae

As of 9am this morning the fax has not come through, Could you please re fax to 02 9823 7662 thank you.