National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals – from students, to scientists to chefs and musicians – get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation.

Science Week is designed for everyone – it’s definitely not restricted to schools and universities – with events and activities and talks and shows for every age group.

It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists’ to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and to encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in.

A National Science Week event should:

• be fun for the participants
• be focused on quality science outcomes
• be supportive of your science curriculum
• encourage the participants to want to try more science
• raise the general profile of science within the community

Activities

• Super Cool Lava Lamp Experiment for Kids https://funlearningforkids.com/super-cool-lava-lamp-experiment/
• Rain Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment https://funlearningforkids.com/rain-cloud-jar-science-experiment/
• Oil and Water Science Exploration https://funlearningforkids.com/oil-water-science-exploration/

For further ideas for events and activities, please click on the following link: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/wp-content/uploads/ScienceWeekFiles/National_Science_Week_in_schools.pdf

What is National Science Week?

National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals – from students, to scientists to chefs and musicians – get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation.

Science Week is designed for everyone – it’s definitely not restricted to schools and universities – with events and activities and talks and shows for every age group.

It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists’ to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and to encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in.

A National Science Week event should:

• be fun for the participants
• be focused on quality science outcomes
• be supportive of your science curriculum
• encourage the participants to want to try more science
• raise the general profile of science within the community

Please note: National Science Week events will be held online this year, and we will also share activity ideas for to do at home or at school.

When is National Science Week?

15 - 23 August 2020

Activities

• Planning an incursion or zoom video where a presenter can demonstrate and teach the children about science and get them involved
• Backyard Science - Weather Station
• Experimenting with mixing primary colours
• Volcano - contructing and gathering all the ingredients to observce a volcano errupt
• Making lava lamps - mixing water with oil and adding food colouring into a bottle to watch what will happen
• Make a water rainbow desity tower
• Make an Eggshell Disappear (Chemistry) - Your children will learn all about the chemical reaction that occurs when you put an egg into vinegar and leave it overnight. This chemical reaction makes the egg shell disappear but will leave the rubbery membrane, keeping the egg intact.
• Super Cool Lava Lamp Experiment for Kids https://funlearningforkids.com/super-cool-lava-lamp-experiment/
• Rain Cloud in a Jar Science Experiment https://funlearningforkids.com/rain-cloud-jar-science-experiment/
• Oil and Water Science Exploration https://funlearningforkids.com/oil-water-science-exploration/

For further ideas for events and activities, please click on the following link: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/wp-content/uploads/ScienceWeekFiles/National_Science_Week_in_schools.pdf

International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August, bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society. It serves as an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges and problems facing the world’s youth.

This year’s theme "Transforming Education" highlights efforts to make education more inclusive and accessible for all youth, including efforts by youth themselves. Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” – International Youth Day 2019 will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education so that it becomes a powerful tool to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

What is Jeans for Genes Day?

Jeans for Genes began in 1994 as a fundraising campaign to raise awareness and support of the work of the scientists at Children’s Medical Research Institute. Over the years many workplaces, school, communities have taken part in Jeans for Genes and raised over $61 million for children’s medical research. 

In the Early Childhood sector, utilised this day to teach our children the importance, aim and purpose of Jeans for Genes day to broaden the children's knowledge and understanding of genetic diseases and the money raised is to help our scientists at the Children's Medical Research to be able to further research a cure. 

When is Jeans for Genes Day?

Friday, 4 August 

Activities: 

• How to make DNA in your Kitchen!  Try this activity, with adult supervision, and be a scientist for a day! 
  https://www.jeansforgenes.org.au/WWW_J4G2015/media/Media/Resources/2017%20updates/Strawberry-DNA.pdf
• Come to school dressed in your jeans and donate a gold coin
• Hold a denim fashion parade
• Have a children's disco where the children donate a gold coin to participate
• Group activity - discuss the purpose of Jeans for Genes Day and who it helps. 
• Discuss how the money raised is to help the Children's Medical Research Institute and helps find cures for children's genetic diseases.
• Spread the word via social media and encourage parents to chip in and show their support. 
• All money raised to be donated to Jean for Genes - https://www.jeansforgenes.org.au/donate

For further information regarding how to get involved, please click on the following link https://fundraise.jeansforgenes.org.au/sponsor?kw=new+school

What is International Day of Friendship?

International Day of Friendship is celebrated in many countries around the world which reminds us and recognises the importance of friendship as a noble and valuable sentiment in the lives of human beings around the world.

International Day of Friendship is a day to honor and celebrate our friends. Good friends can be one of the great joys in life and this is a great time to let your friends know how much they mean to you.

When is International Day of Friendship?

Friday, 30 July

Activities:

• Making a card for a friend
• Encouraging children to play/eat with other peers in the room that they don't ususally play with
• Reading storied about friends
• Show and tell - Bring in a picture of family friends outside of care and share what their families do together
• Arts and craft - Create a Garden of Friendship Flowers
• Get the Scoop on Friendship! - Colour, cut and glue the pieces together to form the best ever friendship ice cream cone! Write down words that friend do for one another.
• Discussing random acts of kindness - ways you can make people feel when a good gesture has been offered. 
• Reading books about emotions and being kind to one another.

For further activity ideas, click on the following link: https://www.teachstarter.com/au/blog/international-day-friendship-activities/