When thrown properly, a boomerang has two different motions going on. The first is forward motion from the throw (just like if you threw a tennis ball). The second is the spin. Because the boomerang is moving forwards and spinning at the same time, the two wings are actually moving at different speeds. The wing on top moves faster than the one on the bottom, meaning the top wing generates more lift and causes the boomerang to tilt as it flies.

Setting Students Up for Careers in Science

We are currently living through a period of great change. New technological advancements are having a profound effect on employment opportunities. Increasing automation in industries like manufacturing, mining, transport and construction is causing a major shift in jobs. Over the next five years, the Australian Skills Committee is predicting a 12.9% growth in STEM careers, with many of those roles being highly resilient to economic uncertainty.

These changes to the way we work will be felt the most over the next few decades. An increase in the number of science, engineering, technology and robotics jobs means that students need to be prepared for the workforce of the future. Starting science education early isn’t just a useful way to build critical thinking, it’s also an important part of setting kids up for success in the high tech industries of the future.

How to Encourage Kids to Learn Science

Science is often a challenging subject to teach, especially to younger students. The difficult concepts involved mean that lessons need to be tailored to suit the age groups you’re working with. Here are a few simple ways to encourage children and students to get involved with science from an early age:

• Indulge their curiosity. The most effective way to teach science to younger students is to follow their natural curiosity! Rather than getting caught up in teaching the correct answers, let students pick the areas they’re interested in learning more about. You can then focus on teaching skills that will help to answer questions in their areas of interest and channel their curiosity in science.
• Make it fun! The best lessons are always the fun ones. Research shows that being in a good mood has a positive impact on attentiveness, memory, comprehension and other brain functions that help students retain and recall information. A fun, humorous science workshop is far more likely to stay with your students than any other type of learning.
• Get hands-on. Kids love to get involved with the things they’re learning, and science is the perfect topic for hands-on classes! Hands-on learning engages new neurological pathways that help the brain create better comprehension and retention. That means a hands-on science workshop can go a long way to helping students build their scientific skills and understanding.
• Use real-world examples. Some of the biggest concepts in science can be difficult for students to understand. The good news is that science is all around us, so it’s usually simple to find real-world applications that can help your students grasp the scientific principles you’re teaching. Try to choose examples that your students are familiar with already, or use hands-on experiments to create examples that students can experience for themselves.