Reach for the Stars

Years 7 & 8
In Reach for the Stars students develop a fundamental understanding of energy.

Reach for the Stars includes a pre-visit project for students and a half day visit to VSSEC.

At school students use the VSSEC Energy and Motion web site to investigate energy transformations and Newton’s Laws of Motion. The website links students to a carefully selected range of videos and demonstrations which illustrate and explain ideas about energy and motion. Students will love the Wile E Coyote video. The University of Manchester site includes an interactive animation with a built in quiz to test student understanding as they go along. Students can even build their own on-line roller coaster.  This project is designed to be self-directed.  Students record their work using foldables. If this is their first use of foldables they will find them to be fun, engaging and useful.

During their visit to VSSEC students design, build and launch water rockets. Students track the transformations of energy during the launch, flight and landing of their rockets. They see Newton’s Laws of Motion in dramatic action. Water rockets are a safe, simple and fun way to demonstrate these principles.

Times: 9:30 – 12 noon  or 12:30 – 3:00 pm

Number: Minimum 12  Maximum 30 students

Cost: $10 per student (Victorian students).

Subsidy: Some schools may qualify for a subsidy, please enquire.

Deposit: A $50 deposit will be required to secure your booking.

For schools which wish to bring  two classes for the day, this half day program can be combined with The Stars in Your Life to make a complete day.