STEM

At EGPS students participate in a range of student-lead STEM tasks. STEM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is an integrated learning area that empowers students as active and engaged learners who use an engineering design process to solve real world problems.

STEM supports inclusivity for all students, ignites their curiosity and develops essential 21^st century skills to be future thinkers, innovators and problem solvers within the workforce of tomorrow. During STEM students follow set Engineering Expectations involving the character strengths of GRIT, creativity, teamwork and persistence; in line with the school’s Positive Education model.

Within Environmental Sustainability lessons students produce STEM design solutions that address and take care of our ever-changing climate and environment, as responsive and informed citizens within both their local and global community.  This has included investigating the global problem of ocean pollution including microplastics to design filtering systems, using technology to explore the future of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, monitoring local weather patterns effected by climate change, and designing sustainable gardens that support biodiversity and reduce waste.

At EGPS we also through STEM strive to connect students to their wider community. This has resulted in the development of strong partnership programs with Playford International College. These STEM gatherings provide students access to a wide range of technologies, tools and resources, as well as the opportunity to take part in peer mentoring. Activities include 3D printing insect hotels, coding using robots and designing using MakeDo.

KITCHEN GARDEN

As part of our specialised curriculum, Elizabeth Grove Primary School students participate in one Kitchen Garden lesson per week.  Kitchen Garden focuses on pleasurable food Education and is an initiative of Stephanie Alexander, a well-known Australian cook, food writer and restaurateur.  In our classes here at the EGPS we aim to teach the students positive food habits through fun, hands on learning. 

We are fortunate to have Bec from Greenhill Living who visits once a term to run a two-week gardening block.  During this time the students harvest, plant and learn how to produce a healthy vegetable garden and learn the process of composting. Students have also developed their own worm farm! The produce that is grown in our garden is used within our Kitchen Garden cooking lesson.  The students absolutely love utilising produce from the garden within the kitchen.

Chickens are also a main focus of our Kitchen Garden program and in 2020 we welcomed four new chickens to our school. Each student from years 2-7 were given the opportunity to suggest a name.  This was then drawn at random at our school assembly and now each day we say hello to Jessica, Taylor, Alex and Alexis, who can be told apart by their coloured leg tag. We are looking forward to putting their name sign on the coop next week when it arrives!   The students take great pride in caring for our chickens and learn how to feed, collect eggs and maintain the coop. 

Jasmine Craig

Kitchen Garden Coordinator