Year 9s Share Their Scientific Superpowers
This term, our Year 9 Marine Science students took a deep dive into the fascinating world of ocean animals. They have spent the last few weeks getting to know the creatures that call our oceans home, from high-speed orcas to the not-so-cuddly tiger sharks. Students have been looking closely at what helps these animals survive in their unique environments.
Learning Through Doing
The project featured animals from the Phylum Chordata, which, in simple terms, means animals with a backbone. Students worked in small groups to research one marine animal and zoom in on one special feature that gives it a survival edge. This could be anything from the shape of an orca’s fin to the incredible way tiger sharks can sense their prey using electroreception.
Not only was this about research and notes, it was also about sharing what they learned in a fun, hands-on way that made sense to others.
The Marine Biodiversity Showcase
To bring their learning to life, students created an interactive activity based on their chosen animal. Each group designed a mini station and set it up in the Super Lab, turning the space into a buzzing hub of ocean-themed learning.
Students rotated around the stations in a ‘circus-style’ set-up, chatting, testing, playing, and learning along the way.
Afterwards, everyone had the chance to reflect on how their activity went, what worked well, what could be improved next time, and how their group worked together. They also gave feedback to other groups to support each other’s learning.
Celebrating Curiosity and Teamwork
This showcase was a brilliant way to wrap up the biodiversity topic, not just because students learned more about marine animals, but because they got to build confidence, work as a team, and share their ideas in creative ways. It was a great reminder that science is about more than facts; it’s about curiosity, discovery, and communication.
What the Students Shared
“As someone who’s extremely interested in biology and animal evolution, I found this project especially intriguing. It was a fun opportunity to expand my knowledge and appreciation of how animals adapt to their environments!” Sophie
“It was inspiring to see how each group brought their own unique perspective and creativity to the task. This project was a great opportunity to have fun and learn with each other.” Adelaide
- ChordataAnimalAdaptations, Curiosity, Featured, HandsOnScienceActivities, MarineScience, Presentations, SantaMariaCollege, Year9Science, Year9Students
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Weekly Wrap Up – Term 2, Week 8
