Communication devices: plus, minus, interesting

This lesson is to build field knowledge for a Guided Inquiry unit. Brief Youtube clips, supporting the Stage 3 science unit of “Made environments – Information”, will be discussed and consolidated after considering the students’ responses on a “Plus, minus, interesting” matrix, to encourage/develop note-taking skills.


Morse Code


Morse Code Alphabet – By G4JNN


W48 rotary phone overview and ring


Voice quality – iPhone 5 vs antique rotary phone


The making of information age: Enfield Telephone Exchange

Made environments – information

This term, Stage 3 students will be completing a collaboratively-taught unit of work in science on Made environments – information, with particular emphasis on early and modern communication devices, types of codes, digital citizenship and eSafety. This week, the students completed a pre-test survey sheet from the SLIM toolkit (Guided Inquiry) to provide some baseline data, both qualitative and quantitative. We also revisited the Orbit interface of our OLIVER library system to familiarise the students with its capabilities.

We aim to communicate our cumulative findings as entries on a blog, which can be shared with each class and beyond the school.

Coincidentally, today is International Safer Internet Day 2018. “Celebrated globally in 130 countries, Safer Internet Day is coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe.” This year’s SID theme is “Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you”.


1.1 – Stone Age to Modern Age – evolution of communication


What is communication


16 famous logos with a hidden meaning (that we never even noticed)

How are mountains formed

Stage 2 students are investigating mountains during their Term 2 library lessons. These Youtube clips will hopefully provide some field knowledge for class discussions.


Where do mountains come from?


GCSE science revision – formation of sedimentary rock layers


Blue Mountains formation


Ring of Fire: earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the Pacific explained – TomoNews

The science behind natural disasters

Stage 3 students are investigating natural disasters in science. In library lessons, we are particularly looking the properties of these disasters, and how they form.


How do tornadoes form? – James Spann [TED-Ed]


What are hurricanes, typhoons and tropical cyclones?


On this day 24th of December | Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin [1974]


What is an earthquake? | The Dr Binocs Show | Educational Videos For Kids


On this day 28th of December | 1989 Newcastle earthquake


How tsunamis work – Alex Gendler [TED-Ed]


Tsunamis 101 | National Geographic

The International Space Station and beyond

Stage 3 students are investigating the International Space Station (ISS) in information literacy and science lessons in the library:


Tour the International Space Station – Inside ISS – HD


James May rides the Vomit Comet – Astronaut training – James May: On the moon – Brit Lab

Averting exploration disasters:


What if Apollo had crashed on the moon?

Mars awaits:


Mars or the moon – Where do NASA manned missions go next?

Built environments and interior design

This term, Stage 2 students are investigating aspects of Built environments in their science lessons. In the library, we shall extending this work by exploring the interior designs of: railway carriages, aeroplanes, ferries and cars. Also, how do people move within the interior of a built environment? ie. stairs, escalators, lifts/elevators.


German ICE train ICE 122 interior – Frankfurt HBF – Amsterdam Centraal


Airline: the story of Pan Am – YouTube trailer version


How to design an aircraft cabin


Simara ACE – ACE link – ferry exterior styling and interior design


Making of BMW i3: interior design [electric car]


20 attractive wooden staircase design


Spiral staircase design | Beautiful collection of staircase designs as modern interior


Sydney wooden escalator at Wynyard (Walkabouter’s guide) #84 [railway station]

And if you’ve ever wondered where the Wynyard Station wooden escalators originally came from…


Luna Park big slide [Coney Island, Milson’s Point]


Elevators – How do they do it?


Otis traction scenic red elevators @ Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles CA


Elevator machine room tour: 1965 Otis gearless traction elevator relay logic unit


Beautiful 100 year old Van Emon elevator @ Golden Gate Hotel San Francisco CA


Tiny vintage Curtis traction elevator @ 100 W 23rd st New York City New York

May the CPR be with you…

StarWars

Of all the nights to have an extra staff meeting thrown into the mix! The staff at my school had to update our Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Care certification before the end of term and, of course, it fell on the same school night as the free teacher preview of “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination”.

The Lucasian gods must have been smiling upon me. It was explained that the order of the 24 of us doing the practical test on the CPR mannequins would be by lot. There were two examiners. What were my chances of getting away early enough to still attempt getting into the city in time? I was one of the last to select a number and it was… #2!

I was able to perform my test, then race for the train station. An express country train was due, so I ended up at the Powerhouse 30 minutes later, at only a few minutes past 6pm.

As I approached the museum, there was a wonderful photo opportunity: a pair of stormtroopers menacing people passing through the automatic doors. But the drinks were being served – and the (understandably) thirsty guards disappeared inside just as I raised my iPhone. Oh well.

The exhibition is excellent. Not only is it a great display of impressive props, costumes, robots and vehicles from the extensive “Star Wars” universe, but parallels have been drawn to modern-day science fact and speculative science theory-soon-to-be-fact-one-day. Advances in bionic limbs, robotics, hover vehicles, faster-than-light colony vessels, etc, were all represented, with many clever hands-on activities.

I had to admire the layout this time. The exhibit is on two levels – and its circuitous path took attendees through the “Star Wars” souvenir shop twice!