Year 5 Canberra Immersion

“Year 5’s Canberra immersion was a very enjoyable experience. Our bus rides were made fun by our wonderful bus driver, who pointed out landmarks along the way. One of the highlights of our trip was when we went to Questacon. All the girls were fascinated by the hands-on science, and the show, ‘Move It’, which was engaging and informative. During one of the evenings, we went to the Australian Institute of Sport, where we experienced a range of sport simulations.

Another highlight for Year 5 was Parliament House. We saw a live debate in the House of Representatives, and we went to the Parliamentary Education Office, where we were engaged in a role play and debated a bill. This helped us learn about the process of how the Australian Government, makes and amends laws.”

– Maya Haysom-McDowell (Year 5)

“One of the highlights of our Year 5 Immersion was Questacon. When we got there, we had a quick look at the gift shop then we went to the Excite@Q gallery. In this gallery there were so many cool and amazing experiences. Year 5’s favourite was ‘free fall’. A big seven metre slide. After this gallery we went to a show in Questacon called, Move It. It demonstrated how simple machines can move objects. Then we went to the amazing earth room and got to see lightning in a cage and experience the earthquake room. It is safe to say that Questacon was one of the highlights of our Canberra Immersion.”

– Avery Satchcroft (Year 5)

“For Year 5’s Canberra Immersion, we had to go to Parliament House to learn about the democracy we live in today. There were lots of educational morning activities and exciting night activities. One of the night activities was the AIS which is a sport centre that athletes live in. We went to a section called SportEx that had activities such as Basketball, Rowing, Skeleton Run, and other activities that athletes may have to go through to complete their training. This immersion was an important memory for all of Year 5 and we hope that we will go back to Canberra soon!”

– Lily Sugianto (Year 5)

“We went to Canberra on the 6^th to the 8^th; it was so fun. I had a wonderful time. We went to Parliament House, the new one and the old one. We also went to Questacon and the National Botanical Garden. When we got to the hotel, we found out our rooms. My room was fun to be in, it had lots of my friends. The food was delicious, the hotel was amazing, the staff were fantastic. My most favourite things were Questacon and the MOAD (the old Parliament House). I wish we could have stayed longer.”

– Francesca White (Year 5)

“Our three-day immersion trip from Sydney to Canberra was a fantastic exploration of culture, history, and nature. We began our adventure at Questacon, where engaging science exhibits captivated us. At the Australian War Memorial, we learned about Australia’s military history and the sacrifices made by service members. A highlight was the pond-dipping activity, where we discovered local wildlife in a fun, interactive way. Visiting New Parliament House allowed us to explore Australian politics and democracy, even participating in a role-play as the House of Representatives. Each day was filled with delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This trip was not only educational but also deliciously memorable!”

– Annika Bou (Year 5)

“Year 5’s immersion camp in Canberra truly changed our perspective on democracy. My favourite place was MOAD, which stands for the Museum of Australian Democracy, also known as Old Parliament House. We did so many fun activities there! My two favourites were exploring the interactive screens and visiting the Senate room. In groups of three, we used the screens, completing one activity before being guided to another in a chain. In the Senate room, we sat in the same chairs once used by past senators and saw the outfits worn by the first Governor-General and the first woman Governor-General.”

– Averie Ling (Year 5)

“Canberra was one of the best immersions we have ever been on. It was interesting, informative, and fun. The classes truly came together during this immersion. Many students made new friends and experienced new enriching opportunities. Some of the highlights were:

Questacon – We went on the Big Slide, which was absolutely exhilarating. The real heart of this event was the LEGO! They had look-a-like planets, illusions, insects and a giant rocket – all LEGO, of course.
Parliament House – We saw the Senate and House of Representatives. Unfortunately, the Senate was not sitting, but we were lucky enough to hear a politician speak in the House of Representatives.
The motel – So very comfortable!
The food – It was divine!
The Botanical Gardens – We did Pond Dipping and studied the microorganisms and small insects we found in the water. (As well as a few lizards!)
And MOAD! – Museum of Australian Democracy – That was cool as well. We got to sit in the old House of Representatives, and do a few activities, like acting out a job.

We would absolutely love to do the trip again. It was amazing! We highly recommend this immersion to everyone. Don’t miss out on this inspiring journey!”

– Daisy Han (Year 5) and Peta Bianchi-Howden (Year 5)