Space Junk: Salvaging Satellites has been designed for high ability Years 5-6 students.  Space Scientist Elise Blanchfield will begin by leading an exciting presentation followed by a Q&A session. 

A short break will then be followed by an engaging hands-on session where our junior space engineers, will experiment with the force of drag as they design ways of slowing space junk re-entry into earth’s atmosphere.

IMPORTANT PREPARATION DETAILS:

1. There are limited numbers of tickets available.  Only ONE ticket of up to 25 high ability students per school for each event. 
2. Program Flyer VCES Salvaging Satellites

How to book your group

1. Book your students into either the morning or afternoon session NOT both.
2. There are only a limited number of video conference dial-in sessions available. To reserve your spot, please fill out the booking form. Remember, each class you sign up for counts as one dial-in session.
3. Download and complete the attached Student details  spreadsheet and email this through to ecolinc@education.vic.gov.au

After your booking is confirmed

Please download the parental invitation and student nomination forms and distribute them to the families of the students.

• VCES Student Nomination Form
• VCES Parent Info

The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) is an initiative funded by the Victorian Government to extend and engage high-ability students across the state. The series provides opportunities for students from Foundation to Year 12 in Government Schools to participate in enrichment learning experiences that challenge their thinking, build advanced skills, and encourage creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. Delivered by specialist organisations and education providers, VCES programs immerse students in authentic, real-world learning beyond the classroom.

Year Level: Year 5-6

Duration: 2 hour

Yes, a kit of resources will be sent to your school

No prior knowledge is required.

In this video conference students will:

• Learn what space junk is, where it comes from, and how it affects Earth’s atmosphere and satellite systems
• Listen to and engage with a space scientist to learn about real-world problems and current research in space science
• Analyse how scientists use data and tracking systems to monitor and manage space junk
• Explore the environmental, technological, and safety issues related to space debris in orbit and during re-entry
• Apply their understanding of gravity, friction, atmosphere, and heat to investigate how objects burn up on re-entry
• Explore how materials and shape affect the speed and burn-up rate of space junk
• Understand how science and innovation can help solve global environmental and technological challenges, such as managing space junk

In this video conference students will:

• Engage in a Q&A session with a Space Scientist
• Engage in a discussion and exploration of the issue of space junk
• Work in teams to design and trial a simple model that could slow the re-entry of space junk to ensure it burns up safely
• Apply design thinking to design to plan, build, test and refine their models using basic materials and scientific reasoning
• Participate in a design showcase

Science -Science as a Human Endeavour

• Scientific knowledge changes over time, often resulting from collaboration or by building on the work of others, and leads to advances in science (VC2S6H01)

Science – Science Understanding

• The force of gravity keeps Earth and other planets in the solar system in orbit around the Sun; cyclic observable phenomena, including variable day and night length, can be related to Earth’s tilt, rotation on its axis and revolution around the Sun (VC2S6U07)

Science – Science Inquiry

• Scientific ideas, findings, patterns, trends and relationships can be communicated for a specific purpose and audience, using various presentation formats, scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate (VC2S6I06)

Critical and Creative Thinking – Questions and Possibilities

• The construction of questions for identifying and building understanding of information, possibilities, processes and activities (VC2CC6Q01)