This week saw Joondalup Schools celebrate National Science Week 2019. The theme of this year’s event was ‘Destination Moon’. Students arrived at School Monday morning to find a meteorite had struck the school grounds. This had been cordoned off by the authorities, but students from all classes were allowed to investigate the site as part of the week’s festivities. 

All students from our School had the opportunity to visit Joondalup Astronaut Training Centre’, a facility which had mysteriously appeared where our STEM classroom was previously found in J Block. When students arrived for their training session, they were greeted by Astronaut Critchley, who explained the various tasks that they would find inside. Before entering the facility, students had to pass through a decontamination unit. Once inside, they were able to complete a set of 7 training tasks, all designed to showcase various elements of astronaut life. 

At Station 1, students recreated a moon walk by dressing in an astronaut costume and using the green screen to simulate the lunar surface.

At Station 2, students used the NASA selfie app to put themselves inside an astronaut helmet and choose a galaxy or nebular for their backdrop.

At Station 3, students investigated what happens when astronauts eat food in zero or low gravity environment, and taste tested freeze dried food similar to that which the Apollo programs astronauts would have eaten.

At Station 4, students used virtual reality equipment to simulate a lunar landing and investigate the lunar surface.

At Station 5, students used a range of materials to build their own rocket.

At Station 6, students created slides that could be used in a planetarium show.

To conclude the training session, students investigated how a chemical reaction can create energy to launch a plastic rocket.

Students and staff did a fantastic job of getting into character and putting themselves through the training program. The staff of the Joondalup Astronaut Training Centre were very impressed with their efforts!

Rory Critchley

Science and Technologies Teacher

Maker Space & Coder Dojo Champion