WAFTUS

During term two, a group of Year ten students (from Fort Street and Tempe High School) went to Wilkins, Ashfield and Summer Hill primary schools to mentor younger students to complete Science investigations. Each of us was assigned to a group of three to four students from Years 3, 4 and 6 in order to guide them through the scientific process in order to investigate a scientific question of their choice. We worked with our mentees every Wednesday morning at their school, teaching the students about fair testing and proper procedures to carry out their investigations. It was amazing to see how eager and capable they were, which made our jobs as mentors very easy. Towards the end of Term 2 during weeks eight and nine, we were all busy working, preparing and getting ready for the presentation day at Fort Street on Wednesday, July 3.

On the presentation day morning we all arrived at the Fort Street High School hall and began setting up for the judges from UTS to look at each project. It was amazing to walk around the hall and see eight to twelve year old students’ display projects with such professionalism and detail on topics such as the Absorption rate of Orbeez, Conductivity of different types of potatoes, The optimal light colour for plant growth, The reaction between coke and mentos, and The melting rate of different liquids, just to name a few! The judges from UTS arrived and went around to each group, asking them questions about their project. Finally after anxiously waiting throughout lunch, we gathered together for the awards and listened to some very fascinating speeches from scientists at UTS. The primary school students were very happy and proud to be a part of this program and everyone involved (both mentors and mentees) gained a lot of knowledge.

Allowing the primary school students to do a complex project with a mentor gives them responsibility, freedom and a challenge which they can rise up to. The quality of the work amazed Fortians, teachers and the representatives from UTS who came to judge the projects and is a proof of the success of this program and capability of future scientists. It was so much fun working with such intelligent and enthusiastic students, and the bond we formed with them was truly unique. Thank you to Ms Jamble and Mr Webb for taking the time to organise such a fantastic program, and we can’t wait to see the projects produced next year!

Stella Sharwood and Carmen Ossimitz (year 10)