Highlights of the GHPS Science Program

Science & STEM at Glen Huntly Primary School

At Glen Huntly Primary School, Science and Mathematics are key strengths that set us apart. We are proud to offer a vibrant, hands-on Science and STEM program that inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of discovery.

All students from Prep to Year 6 participate in a dedicated one-hour Science session each week, taught by our specialist and well qualified Science teacher, Mel Oldham.

Lessons take place in our well-equipped Science room and also in the STEM room, providing students with the tools and space to explore and experiment and be inspired.

Our Science curriculum is structured across the year to cover key areas of:

• Biological sciences

• Physical sciences

• Earth and space sciences

• Chemical sciences

We bring learning to life with real-world connections—students engage with living creatures including our three chickens, two blue-tongue lizards, yabbies, and stick insects, deepening their understanding of life cycles, ecosystems, and animal care.

The excitement continues beyond the classroom with whole-school celebrations of National Science Week, a biennial Science Fair, and special events such as our Star Gazing Night, hosted in partnership with the Victorian Astronomical Society.

At Glen Huntly Primary, our commitment to Science and STEM learning builds strong foundations for the future—encouraging innovation, collaboration, and a passion for problem-solving.

Science and STEM Captains 2026 – Sean & Alec

Watch one of our fun science experiments here

Supporting You Child with Science/STEM Learning 

 

• • Specialist weekly 1 hour Science Classes F – 6

  • Dedicated Science Room and a STEM Room

  • Science incursion/excursion programs

  • National Science Week activities

  • Science Fair

  • Digital Technologies – Microscopes, 3D Printer, Digital Camera

  • Active involvement in ICAS Exams and Science Talent Search

  • Sustainability Program

The school has a number of animals as part of the science and STEM programs including two Eastern Blue Tongue Lizards named Bluey and Bingo, three hens, some yabbies and a number of stick insects.

Sustainability Captains 2026 – Lewis & Nagi

GHPS has a reputation in the Victorian community of being an environmental leader.

Our school is deeply committed to educating students about environmental sustainability and, importantly, putting these practices into action. We are an active participant in the Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSi), a nationally recognised program delivered in Victoria through the Department of Education and Training (DET) in partnership with CERES. This initiative supports schools to significantly reduce water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.

Sustainability is embedded across our school through a wide range of hands-on programs and student-led initiatives. We have a strong focus on land and habitat, renewable energy, water conservation and management, sustainable building design, plants and animals, applied gardening, waste management and cultural diversity.

Our students play a key role in driving change. Our Sustainability Captains lead a variety of initiatives, including the popular “Golden Lunchbox” program, which encourages students to reduce plastic use and minimise waste in their lunchboxes.

We are proud of our extensive environmental programs, including large-scale planting of native trees and vegetation to support local biodiversity, complemented by the installation of bird boxes. Future plans include the development of a fenced frog pond to further enhance habitat creation within the school grounds.

The school has achieved significant recognition for its efforts, including accreditation as a Water Wise School and Bronze Accreditation through the “Learn it! Live it!” program. Our infrastructure supports these initiatives, with six water tanks and five complete rainwater harvesting systems that collect water from the gym and library roofs. This water is reused for toilet flushing and irrigation, with a total storage capacity of 40,000 litres.

In addition, we have installed a 98kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage across both the Junior and Senior campuses, significantly improving our energy efficiency and reducing our environmental footprint.

For over fifteen years, our school has built a strong reputation within the Victorian community as a leader in environmental education. We pride ourselves on immersing students in meaningful sustainability practices both inside and outside the classroom, empowering them to become responsible and environmentally conscious citizens.

Sustainability Event Presentation

Click Here for Science Fun

Aims

Glen Huntly Primary School Science curriculum aims to ensure that students develop:

• an interest in Science as a means of expanding their curiosity and willingness to explore, ask questions about and speculate on the changing world in which they live

• an understanding of the vision that Science provides

• an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry methods

• an ability to communicate scientific understanding and findings to a range of audiences

• an ability to solve problems and make informed, evidence-based decisions about current and future applications of Science

• an understanding of historical and cultural contributions to Science as well as contemporary Science issues and activities and an understanding of the diversity of careers related to Science

• a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological, chemical, physical, Earth and space Sciences

Content structure

Glen Huntly Primary School’s Science program aligns itself directly with the Victorian Curriculum Science curriculum. It has two interrelated strands: Science Understanding (including Science as a Human Endeavour) and Science Inquiry Skills.

Science Understanding

Science understanding is evident when a person selects and integrates appropriate science knowledge to explain and predict phenomena, and applies that knowledge to new situations.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Through Science, humans seek to improve their understanding and explanations of the natural world. Science involves the construction of explanations based on evidence and scientific knowledge can be changed as new evidence becomes available.

Science Inquiry Skills

Science inquiry involves identifying and posing questions; planning, conducting and reflecting on investigations; processing, analysing and interpreting evidence; and communicating findings. modelling and simulations. The choice of the approach taken will depend on the context and subject of the investigation.

https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/science/curriculum/f-10