Primary
Introduction
The main objective of the GDC is to provide a fun and exciting Science Education Program for both Primary and Secondary school excursion groups. We aim to inspire students to aspire to careers in Science, and to re-ignite a passion for Science in students of all ages.
Our Educational experiences include a climb up the Leaning Tower of Gingin, experimentation with interactive exhibits and displays and learning about mysteries such as Black Holes in our Universe. Students will be able to test the power of gravity by dropping water balloons from the tower.
The Gingin Observatory is located onsite and takes boolkings for daytime and evening astonomy sessions. Why not visit the observatory as part of your excursion?
The Gravity Discovery Centre…A High Impact Experience…
Download our 2010 Education Kit and Booking Form
Download only the Booking Form
Download our Excursion Management Plan Gravity Discovery Centre EPD
Earth and Beyond
Life and Living
Energy and Change
Investigating
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Teacher Resources
Below is a set of resources designed for in depth study into specific units of work. These can be used as a complete unit, or used for individual activities, either pre-visit, post-visit or onsite. Assessment is included
Vacuums and Space
What is a vacuum and what is space? At the GDC students will be able to explore the concept of vacuums and space and gain an understanding of questions raised during discussion.
The various experiments conducted at the centre will demonstrate to the students that some things do exist in a vacuum – light, heat, anything else?? They will investigate the effect of a vacuum on free falling objects and compare to free falling objects outside a vacuum. The students will examine the curved space model and the breathing mirror
Life and Living: Nasty Creepy Crawlies
The Gravity Discovery Centre is set in pristine bushland. In this ‘untouched’ state there are many mini beasts that can be studied and observed. The world of mini beasts is fascinating, because we can see them all around us in our daily lives and as humans we have much in common with them. Like humans mini beasts often live in communities, have leaders, workers and child-rearers. Because of their size they are relatively easy to observe. One common ‘mini beast’ that is found at the GDC is the Kangaroo Tick.
Students will have the opportunity to study the Life and Living and Investigating Scientifically Strand by studying this common invertebrate.
Life and living: Biodiversity
The GDC is located within one of the great biodiversity hotspots of the world. Southwest Western Australia has a remarkable diversity of native plabts & species. The visit to the GDC will involve students in working with staff to compile a reference collection of insects that are common to the GDC site. They will also be involved in examining and identifying species of invertebrates that are attracted to ultra violet light.
Theories of Relativity
Einstein’s Theory of Relativity is based on Newton’s laws of mechanics and Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory and the concepts of space and time. If we want to describe the Universe as we know it in its most basic terms we could say that it consists of a handful of properties. We are so familiar with these properties that we take them for granted. But under special relativity they behave in unexpected ways.
For information on Einstein, Newton & more download this activity.
Sound: Hearing – A Thing of the Past
Sound waves are also called acoustic waves and are also longitudinal waves – waves with particles that move (oscillate) along the same line as the waves travel. Sound waves can travel through solids, liquids and gases and have a wide range of frequencies.
Students at the GDC will be able to investigate producing different sounds, gain an understanding of the way sound is transmitted and look at the frequency of sound.
Energy and Change: Magnetism
Magnets are pieces of special material, which can exert a force on other magnets or magnetic materials. Some magnets are permanent magnets, others can be made magnetic using electric currents, and are called electromagnet: they are made by passing an electric current through a coil. Find out more…
Earth and Beyond: Black Holes, Rotations & Orbits
Black holes in reality are a region of space that has so much mass that there is no way to escape its gravitational pull. Our Black Hole exhibit at the GDC allows you to explore planetary orbits of the type you see in the solar system. You can create orbits of planets and comets. You can measure the time of different orbits – circles and very eccentric ellipses. You can also observe your orbiting bodies ‘disappearing down the plug hole’, because of the long neck which simulates a black hole. A solar system model would curve to a gentle valley in the middle (occupied by the Sun) instead of having a steep neck.
The Foucault pendulum at the GDC enables students to witness first-hand the rotation of the Earth. The movement can be observed during the duration of the visit.
Young Galileo’s Free Fall Experiment
Exciting free fall investigations from the worlds only purpose built Leaning Tower! A spectacular 45 meter tower offering stunning views. This primary school module allows students to repeat Galileo’s famous experiments from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Students will learn how experiment was used to question writings in ancient books and will themselves be able to question whether Galileo was himself telling the whole truth. They will drop big water balloons, and see craters being formed.
