Chancellor students recently celebrated World Water Day over an entire week! With the 2023 theme of “Accelerating Change", the goal was to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis, by emphasising the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Led by Olivia as the Year 11 student Project Manager, some members of the recently formed STEM portfolio, and extra primary and secondary student helpers, constructed a coral reef diorama and interactive posters to form a secondary campus library display. Made from recycled or upcycled products such as aluminium foil, plastic yoghurt containers, and bubble wrap, the underwater scene of rock ledges, origami crabs, barnacles and sea anemones ironically became 'the talking point' of the library.
The display featured both fiction and non-fiction texts related to water, informing staff and students about the variety of books available for loan from the secondary campus. This visual prompt provided another discussion topic as some students enjoyed pointing out the books that they had already read or were on their 'to read' list.
The “Growing G.E.M.S" student team from the primary campus also contributed to the display. The students researched World Water Day and discovered the importance of water and its effects on our local and global community.
The “How much water?" competition was also popular in the library. Students used their numeracy skills to estimate the volume of water inside of a bottle. The winner will receive a fabulous prize pack donated by Unitywater.
Year 8 ELO Marine Adventures students discovered the beauty of marine animals, when Gary Cobb, a local nudibranch expert and underwater photographer, shared his knowledge with the class. Students eagerly asked questions to find out more about these striking creatures.
While World Water Day has finished for 2023, learning about water continues. In early Term 2, guest speakers from Unitywater will explain why people in different parts of the world do not necessarily have the same access to clean drinking water as Chancellor students do. The presenters will also share information about potential career pathways with some students.
The coral reef diorama will now make its way over to the primary campus, where students and staff will also be able to appreciate its creativity up close. Prep students will use it as a visual consolidation of their Term 1 Science unit as well as sparking interest in their Term 2 work associated with properties of materials.