Time

Speaker

Topic

Zoe Stephens,

Ngarala Public School

Science in Action – Organising and Implementing Interactive Science Days

This session will report on a project carried out at Ngarala Public School, in Epping. The Specialist Science teacher was tasked with designing and implementing a program of learning where lessons would be delivered to students from K-6 in a combination of individual classroom-based inquiry lessons and a whole stage interactive science experience. Zoe will outline the planning and preparation process for each interactive science day she implemented for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1, share some insights into the days and samples of student learning experiences. 

Tea Break 

Networking

Assoc. Prof. Christine Preston, The University of Sydney, and Bachelor of Education Primary Science Specialisation students

Embodied learning – Stage 1 senses: eye and ear. 

Preservice teachers from the University of Sydney who are completing the NESA Science and Technology K-6 Specialisation will present strategies suited to helping Stage 1 children understand fundamental aspects of how the eye and ear function to enable humans to see and hear. Students will demonstrate and discuss how embodied learning, where students use their own bodies as a form of representation, can support science understanding of abstract concepts. Students will identify critical concepts, critique standard diagrammatical representations and provide examples of age-appropriate activities for Stage 1 students. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the affordances of embodied learning approaches.

Time

Speaker

Topic

Sally Nugent 

Marie Bashir Public School 

Early Career Experiences in Primary Science

Beginning teachers are often expected to juggle a variety of curriculum demands while developing their professional confidence, engaging students and working with limited resources. This presentation reflects on the experience of becoming a specialist primary science teacher at a public school, exploring both the challenges and advantages of working across K–6 as an early-career educator. Drawing on personal experiences, the session will consider the realities of implementing hands-on learning and inquiry within busy primary school environments, as well as the unexpected lessons, tensions and opportunities that can emerge through science education as a beginning teacher.

Tea Break 

Chair: Assoc. Prof. Helen Georgiou University of Wollongong 

Lesley Gough, Lecturer in Primary Science and Technology, University of Western Sydney  

Zoe Stephens, Science Specialist, Ngarala PS 

Sally Nugent, classroom teacher, 

Marie Bashir Public School 

Colleen Quince, The Meadows Public School 

Panel Discussion

In this interactive panel discussion, we unpack the evolving pedagogical toolkit of today’s primary science classroom. Chaired by Dr. Helen Georgiou from University of Wollongong, the panel brings together a newly qualified teacher science specialist teacher, a mid‑career science specialist teacher, an early‑career primary generalist teacher and a lecturer in primary science education. Together, they will explore how teachers at different stages of their careers draw on — and continually reshape — their professional toolkit to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Invitation for Questions: We invite members to shape the conversation by submitting questions in advance. Whether you’re curious about classroom practice, teacher development, or the future of science education, your voice will help guide the discussion. Share your questions via the panel question submission link.

Time

Speaker

Topic

Robert Hollow, CSIRO 

Hands-on Astronomy and Space for Stage 2

In this online presentation participants will be provided with a range of resources and simple activities that help underpin the key astronomy and space science concepts in the K-6 Primary Science syllabus. Common conceptual pitfalls will be addressed. Hands-on activities requiring no or minimal specialised equipment will be demonstrated focusing on the concepts of scale, distance and position on the Solar System. Opportunities for using astronomy as a cross-curriculum context incorporating literacy and numeracy will be discussed.

Tea Break 

Networking

Josh Nicholls, First Nations Education Team Leader Sydney Zoo 

Connecting with Country: Embedding First Nations Perspectives in Primary Science 

This virtual session will be delivered by Sydney Zoo’s First Nation Team leader Josh Nicholls; he will support primary school teachers to meaningfully and respectfully include First Nations culture in their classroom. The session explores how First Nations perspectives can strengthen science learning by connecting students with Country, seasonal knowledge, sustainable land management, and the relationships between people, plants, animals, and place.

Time

Speaker

Topic

Assoc. Prof. Peta White, Deakin University

Climate Action Education: Teaching and Learning in the Polycrisis 

The Polycrisis is represented by human-induced climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution and many more socio-ecological challenges that express themselves in various ways locally and globally. International policy has been developed that provides leverage in all education jurisdictions: the OECD PISA Science Framework 2025 with the support document ‘Agency in the Anthropocene’ and now the 2029 Climate Literacy Framework. Both policies will be unpacked in this presentation. Teaching and learning sequences co-designed for year 5 and 6 students by our research team, scientists, teachers, and students will exemplify how to offer climate action education. We know that young people have strong desires to understand what is happening and why as well as how to take action to transform our societies for regenerative futures. Teaching and learning for regenerative futures requires responsible decision making and agency from teachers and students in informed education systems.

Tea Break 

Networking

Ben Newsome, Fizzics Education

On the AVA Challenge – STEM design spring for space 

Discover the AVA Challenge, a STEM design sprint designed in partnership with the NSW Dept. of Education STEM enrichment team. In this session, you will learn how your students will apply design thinking and the engineering design process to solve known NASA shortfalls for the Artemis missions and pitch these to the Australian Space Industry, all guided by a comprehensive and free unit of work. https://avachallenge.org/