Science and technology is mandatory for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In science and technology, students explore the natural and made worlds. They learn how to apply scientific and technological skills, knowledge and understanding across a broad range of contexts.
Science provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real world problems. The inquiry and skill-based nature of science opens doors to ideas and discoveries.
Plant Prop was established at Berry Public School in 1990 by BPS teacher, Barry Virtue and a retired primary school principal, Dave Johnson.
A space was provided behind the Kindergarten block to set up a nursery.
Barry’s informal practical natural studies lessons aimed to encourage student awareness and appreciation for the natural environment by learning to identify local trees, birds and animals.
Students were taught how to propagate local native plants from seed which were planted in the school grounds and in community planting projects. The plants would provide a source of seed for future successive propagation.
In 2018 a new purpose built nursery was completed in a more central and prominent location.
The Natural Studies and Plant Propagation Centre provides a first-class teaching facility to expand opportunities for Stages 1-3 of the Science curriculum related to the Living World / Natural Environment with an emphasis on local geographical and physical environmental interconnections with plants and animals.
The aim is to find out how, why and where they grow, their adaptations and uses.
The teachers are embracing the new curriculum and with the support of parent and older community volunteers, the students experience practical hands on activities in the nursery that complement and expand theoretical classroom learning.
