Stage 1 Earth and Environmental Science is a new course that was introduced in 2025 for Year 10 and 11 students to expand their understanding of STEM, incorporating geographical and scientific concepts through an integrative approach. This semester, students have been working on various themes, with the first focus being on 'Life'. As part of this, students explored the beginning of life and the scientific theories and processes regarding fossils and fossil identification. To further students' understanding, an incursion with Dr Felicity Coutts, an Ediacaran Paleontologist, helped students to explore fossils from this period. Some of the samples that students got to touch and analyse were over 600 million years old! Students looked at opalised shells from Coober Pedy, understanding that most of South Australia was underwater during the Cambrian and Ediacaran periods. 

This hands-on activity provided a great opportunity to connect with industry and ask questions of a paleontologist. Our next theme on 'Water' will provide the opportunity for students to continue to connect the importance of this finite resource and the world around them.

Emily Borowicki
Middle School Learning Leader