By Year 6 student Jack Bernie of Scarborough Public School
Published
April 27, 2026
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Last month, Scarborough Public School visited the Wollongong Science Space as part of our STEM unit.
Our day began with a fascinating presentation about the Universe and constellations in the planetarium. The show was projected onto a huge dome-shaped screen above us, making it feel like we were travelling through space. It was an incredible experience.
After the presentation, students explored the upper level of the Science Space.
There were hands-on exhibits about the environment and sustainable energy, a speed challenge where you could throw a ball and measure how fast it travelled, and even a robotic dinosaur that we could control.
Next, we took part in a STEM challenge inspired by The Three Little Pigs. Each stage was given different materials to design and build a house strong enough to protect their “pig” from powerful winds.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 used Duplo. Years 3 and 4 used plastic straws and tape. Years 5 and 6 worked with paddle pop sticks and tape. Once built, our houses were tested using a fan, a hairdryer and even a leaf blower. It was exciting to see which designs were the strongest!
We then had time to explore the downstairs exhibits, including a vertical wind tunnel where you could place a parachute figure inside and watch it float high into the air. There were many other interactive displays that challenged our thinking and encouraged curiosity.
To finish the day, we watched an experiment using liquid nitrogen — an extremely cold substance that can exist as both a liquid and a gas. We saw a metal ball shrink, a bouncy ball lose its bounce, and a balloon deflate when exposed to the liquid nitrogen before reinflating as it warmed up. It was a dramatic and memorable demonstration.
It was an exciting, hands-on day of learning. A big thank you to the staff at the Wollongong Science Space for making science so engaging and fun.