WAFTUS (Science Challenge) Report

In term two this year, selected Year 10 students from Fort Street High School and Tempe High School participated in WAFTUS, a program involving Inner West Community of Schools and UTS.

In collaboration with the students from Tempe High School, the students from Fort Street High mentored students from grades 3 – 6 at Wilkins Public, Ashfield Public and Summer Hill Public in designing and carrying out a scientific investigation.

Mentors spent eight sessions in total with their primary school mentees, taking them from creating their scientific method to conducting the experiment and analysing their results. During these sessions, mentors facilitated the learning of the students, giving them assistance with scientific concepts, particularly the principles of fair testing.  During the last few weeks, mentees finalised their experiment in order to get it ready for the presentation day.

On Tuesday, June 26, students from both high schools and the primary schools congregated at Fort Street High School hall for the student’s presentation of their projects. After a mad rush to finalise posters and displays in the morning, the mentees displayed their results, explaining their findings to judges from University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Following a short awards ceremony, the presentation day concluded and the mentors bade their mentees farewell.

Mentoring these enthusiastic primary school students allowed us, the high school students to explore our own interest in Science and gave us the opportunity to bring this interest to our mentees. The WAFTUS (Science challenge) program was a great experience for all involved and helped the students in their study of Science.

Cheylon Devine and Isaac Broadhead
(Year 10)