Term 4 has seen Grade 9 students involved in a variety of investigation activities, designed to extend mathematical and scientific reasoning. These approaches can challenge students to apply logic to find a reasonable possibility or explanation, without complete certainty.

In Maths, the investigations centred around probability. The first focused on sampling, making predictions and refining predictions as tests were repeated, and sample sizes were expanded. This reflected the catch-and release system, often used by ecologists, as well as scientific research into diagnosing and treating disease. The second investigation used dice and coins to model doping and drug testing percentages in sport, leading to an understanding of levels of accuracy in this field.

In Science, students have researched a particular ecosystem and an endangered species, presenting a factually persuasive speech to bring about action, and be crowned “Conservation Master”. Our final unit is looking at chemistry and heat transfer. On a particularly warm afternoon in Week 8, students were able to look at how salt added to ice emulsifies and decreases the temperature enough to make ice cream out of milk/cream without the need for a freezer.

What a great way to draw our fantastic year to its conclusion – developing thinking, reasoning young adults!