Available Term 4 2025
‘STEM @ the Coal Loader’ is a S5 Science / STEM excursion that focuses on the S5 Science topics 'Energy' and 'Environmental Sustainability'. Students will visit the iconic Coal Loader Sustainability Centre at Waverton, to learn about the Science topics, Environmental Sustainability and Energy. Students will participate in engaging, science based activities that focus on working scientifically, a variety of sustainability strategies, past and alternative energy sources, and data science and urban heat.
Program location
The Coal Loader Sustainability Centre, Waterhen Drive, Waverton Sydney.
View the Google map with approximate walking route, meeting location and pick up location.
Buses can drop off and picjk up on Waterhen Drive, or the Centre is a short walk from Waverton Train Station.
Key learning outcomes
- To investigate current and alternative energy use based on ethical and sustainability considerations
- To explore a range of sustainability strategies that help mitigate human impact on the natural world
- To undertake a STEM task applying the principals and goals of sustainability to propose a valid solution to an identified school sustainability problem.
Key syllabus content focus areas
Syllabus Focus areas: Stage 5 Science
Environmental Sustainability outcomes covered:
- SC5-ENV-01 A student analyses the impact of human activity on the natural worked
- SC5-WS-07 A Student selects suitable problem-solving strategies and evaluated proposed solutions to identify problems
Energy Outcomes covered:
- SC5-EGY-01 A student evaluates current and alternative energy use based on ethical and sustainability considerations.
- SC5-WS-01 A student selects and uses scientific tools and instruments for accurate observations.
- SC5-WS-04 A student follows a planned procedure to undertake safe, ethical, valid and reliable investigations.
- SC5-WS-07 A student selects suitable problem-solving strategies and evaluates proposed solutions to identified problems.
Student previsit and follow up activities
Successful excursions have direct links to current classroom learning. Pre-visit activities carried out prior to the excursion will help students better understand their excursion content and provide connectedness and relevance to classroom learning.
Have students visit the Student Support Webite provided on booking, and complete any pre fieldwork activities to familiarise them with the activities / topics covered.
On the day activities
During the full day excursion, students will:
- Undertake an experiment using STELR Sustainable House kits to identify which materials provide the most effective insulation against increasing temperatures.
- Use thermal imaging cameras, infrared thermometer guns and analyse climate data to investigate the environmental issue of increasing urban heat.
- Explore the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability's features to understand ways to reduce the imapct of human activity on the environment.
- Explore a range of alternative energy strategies to investigate their effectiveness.
- Begin planning a STEM based soloution to an identified school environmental proplem.
Cost
- Government Schools: $15 per student (GST Free)
- Non-Government Schools: $25 per student (GST free). Minimum cost of $600.
- Schools in North Sydney LGA - Free