Primary CREST

CREativity in Science and Technology for Primary students

 

 

ARE YOU:

¨    Finding Science and Technology teaching in the Primary school challenging?

¨    Wishing to extend your students in science and technology?

¨    Seeking material that is in line with the new Queensland Science Curriculum - outcomes based and in line with "Working Scientifically"?

¨    Seeking material that promotes and encourages students' skills in investigating, understanding and communicating science?

¨    Innovative, enthusiastic and seeking new stimuli for your students?

 

If ANY of these apply to you, then you’re ready for Primary CREST!!

 

 

Primary CREST is a new program of Awards offered by CSIRO Education supported by a Grant from the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Science and Technology Awareness Program and a number of State Education Departments.  Primary CREST Awards are National Awards that can be achieved by Primary school students who carry out Science and Technology project work.

 

Primary CREST is a program which integrates science and technology into the curriculum.  Students achieving Primary CREST Awards will be demonstrating their skills in the Working Scientifically strand of A statement on science for Australian schools and in the Design, Make and Appraise strand of A statement on technology for Australian schools.  The program has been developed and trialled in Primary schools across Australia.

 

The Awards are available in three levels - Green, Orange and Blue. 

To achieve the Green level, students must complete a prescribed Science and Technology activity under the supervision of their teacher. 

To achieve an Orange Award, students need to choose and complete four of the suggested activities and then complete a project on one of the suggested Challenge tasks.

 
 
The Blue Award is for students who choose, carry out and evaluate their own Science and/or Technology project.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 



Project cards for Green and Orange Awards are available in themes which fit easily into the Primary school curriculum.

Current themes available are:

¨    Good buy?                         Investigations in consumer science.

¨   

 
 
Pets and Other Animals    Investigations into the needs of pets and other

animals and their effects on the environment.

¨    A Windy Day Today?       Investigations into the effect of the wind.

¨    Colours and Dyes              Investigations into colour and how colouring

can be achieved.

¨    Food, Glorious Food          Investigations into food, preservatives and

packaging

¨    Sunsense - No Nonsense  Investigations into the effect of the sun.

¨    Rocks and Minerals         Investigations into rocks and minerals.

 

 

·      Primary CREST Awards can be achieved by all students.

 

·      Primary CREST is not a competition but a program which focus on the individual and encourages success and the development of skills as students pursue a topic of interest to them.

 

·      Students can work towards Primary CREST Awards at any time.  If you wish, they can take as long as they need to complete their projects.

 

·      Primary CREST can be offered to the whole class.

 

Primary CREST students are encouraged to be Creative, Apply their knowledge and skills and to Persevere with their project until they have completed it.  Teachers are able to monitor the progress of their students using the Profile cards which are provided.

 

Teachers who are involved in the Australian Academy of Science Primary Investigations program will find that Primary CREST is an excellent program to build on the skills and knowledge already gained by their students. 

 

Primary CREST takes students from prescriptive Science and Technology activities and leads them into roles of the decision-making scientist and technologist.  As students progress from the Green Primary CREST Award, through the Orange Award to the Blue Primary CREST Award, they become more self-reliant and self-confident

 

Schools need to register as a Primary CREST Centre before their students can achieve Primary CREST Awards.  The cost is $60 to receive all of the Primary CREST materials needed to enable any students from your school to work towards Green, Orange and Blue Primary CREST Awards.  Apart from the Registration fee, there are no student charges for Green Awards or for Orange Awards however there is a $5 charge per student for Blue (covers the cost of the support material sent to students working at this level).  On completion of their Awards students receive attractive certificates (Orange and Blue CREST Awards) and impressive medallions (Blue CREST Awards).

 

For further information about the Primary CREST Awards contact Vicki Stavropoulos, National CREST Coordinator, CSIRO Education, PO Box 225, Dickson ACT 2602,

phone (02) 6276 6567, fax (02) 6276 6641.

CREST is offered by CSIRO Education with support from the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Science and Technology Awareness Program and Queensland, Victorian and Tasmanian Education Departments.