STEM Competition – The Power of Water
The “Power of Water” competition in collaboration with Snowy Hydro, aims to encourage students to learn and develop their STEM skills while also increasing their understanding of the energy crisis and its possible solutions including the transition to renewable energy sources. The competition provides an opportunity for students to learn to code and create innovative solutions that can address the energy crisis using renewable sources with the Snowy Hydro Scheme as a reference point.
As part of the competition, students will be exposed to the importance of renewable energy and the benefits of harnessing the power of water to generate electricity. Students will also learn about the current energy crisis and its effects on the environment, society, and the economy. They will be encouraged to explore and understand how renewable energy can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The competition is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about real-world challenges and develop practical solutions using their STEM and coding skills. The competition encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while fostering creativity and innovation among students. By participating in this competition, students can gain valuable experience and knowledge that can help them pursue future careers in STEM-related fields.
If you are a teacher or a school, embrace the opportunity to introduce coding as a regular subject in term 3 through our exciting competition. We provide a detailed lesson plan, teacher training, and ongoing support to guide you along the way. Empower your students with essential coding skills while fostering creativity and critical thinking. Join us to unlock the potential of coding in education.
Parents and community groups such as libraries or church groups are encouraged to participate as well.
Learn Coding, Be Creative and Participate in our STEM Competition in collaboration with Snowy Hydro!
Learn Coding with us for free, be creative, and showcase your newly developed knowledge. Already know how to Code? No problem – create a project to enter our STEM Competition and win exciting prizes!
Competition Categories
The competition caters for all age groups
| Year Group | Theme | Deliverables |
| Kindy – Year 2 | Learn about renewable energy and hydro electricity | Physical Model showcasing students’ learning and ideas about renewable energy and hydro electricity |
| Years 3 – 6 | Learn and showcase how Snowy Hydro use water to generate electricity | A story or an animation coded in Scratch showcasing students’ learning and ideas about how Snowy Hydro use water to generate electricity |
| High School | Identify a real-world problem that is associated with transition towards renewable energy, research the problem, and present a solution(s) for it. | A story or an animation coded in Scratch showcasing students’ learning and ideas A short presentation summarising students’ research findings and their ideas |
Competition Details
Theme
The Power of Water – Learn about renewable energy and hydro electricity
Competition Tasks
- Students will explore resources from Snowy Hydro and other sources to learn more about renewable energy and hydro electricity.
- Students will build a physical model using blocks showcasing what they have learnt from Snowy Hydro.
Submit photos or video (preferred) of up to 2 minutes to describe the model and learning.
Who Can Participate
- Students in Kindy to Year 2
- No previous knowledge is required.
Success Criteria
- The model must be built primarily using blocks/bricks (e.g. LEGO(R) bricks)
- The model must be labelled
- Submit up to 5 pictures or a video less than 2 minutes in duration. Do not include any faces in the media for privacy reasons
Ideas To Get Started
- A model of a Power station
- Working model of a turbine
- Model of Snowy Hydro facility
- How Snowy Hydro use water to generate electrical energy
- Register your interest at the bottom of the page and receive all the resources required for the competition.
Theme
The Power of Water – Learn and showcase how Snowy Hydro use water to generate electricity
Competition Tasks
- Students will explore resources from Snowy Hydro and other sources to learn more about renewable energy and Hydro electricity.
- Students will code a short story in Scratch showcasing what they have learnt from Snowy Hydro. Students will be provided with a situation (below) and will use their imagination and their coding skills to showcase their learnings about how water is used to generate electricity.
- Students will ‘share’ and submit their Scratch projects.
Scratch Starter Project
- Two friends Dee and Abbie are off to the Snowy Mountains with their parents. They decide to explore the Snowy Mountains but find themselves off course!
- They see a powerstation in the distance and decide to go explore it.
- Use the Scratch starter project to create a story that depicts Dee and Abbie’s journey of discovering how renewable energy is utilized by Snowy Hydro to generate electricity
Who Can Participate
- Students in years 3 to 6
- No previous knowledge of Coding necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals of Coding in Scratch and Hydroelectric power at the Roadshow
Success Criteria
- A minimum of 2 sprites must be used
- Reference to how a turbine works or looks like must be made
- Code must be written in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
- There must be a backdrop
- Code’s run time must be between 1 minute to 3 minutes
- There must be dialogue between sprites
- Use at least 3 of the following blocks in their code;
- Say
- Wait
- Repeat
- Forever
- Switch backdrop to
- Switch costume to
- Move
- Play sound until done
Ideas To Get Started
- Dee and Abbie shrink themselves to go explore the inside of a turbine and see what it does
- Dee and Abbie jump on a miniature spaceship and fly around the turbine to see what it does
- Dee and Abbie find a tour guide at Snowy Hydro who explains what the turbines do
- Dee and Abbie find themselves in water going straight into the turbine
- Dee and Abbie find a Kangaroo and hop on it to go explore the Power station
Learn To Code In Scratch
A variety of resources will be available to students to learn to code in Scratch.
- A recorded session is available for students to get started
- Live online sessions will be hosted in Term 2 to learn the basics of Scratch coding. Details will be sent to registered participants.
- Face to face sessions will be available for registration in the Snowy Hydro region. More details to come.
Register your interest at the bottom of the page to receive the Scratch starter project, competition resources and a special invitation to join our Coding Roadshows where you will learn the basic fundamentals of coding.
Theme
Identify a real-world problem that is associated with transition towards Renewable Energy, research the problem, and present a solution(s) for it.
Competition Context
- The world is currently grappling with an energy crisis, and Australia is no exception. To tackle this issue, it is crucial that we move away from our reliance on Non-Renewable Energy and transition towards Renewable Energy sources. While Renewable Energy offers numerous benefits over Non-Renewable Energy, it is not without its challenges.
- One significant problem associated with Renewable Energy is its intermittency. Solar and wind power, for instance, depend on weather conditions and are therefore not consistently available. To address this issue, researchers are exploring various solutions, such as energy storage systems and demand response strategies.
- One potential solution is the use of energy storage systems, such as batteries, to store excess energy generated by Renewable Energy sources during times of low demand. This stored energy can then be used during periods of high demand, effectively balancing the supply and demand of energy.
- Another solution is demand response, which involves incentivizing consumers to reduce their energy usage during peak periods. By shifting their energy consumption to off-peak hours, consumers can help to alleviate strain on the energy grid and reduce the need for additional energy generation.
- Overall, while the transition towards Renewable Energy presents some challenges, solutions such as energy storage systems and demand response strategies can help to address these issues and pave the way towards a more sustainable energy future.
- Your objective is to identify an issue related to transition towards Renewable Energy, research the topic, and present a resolution via a Scratch story or animation. You can bring all your friends together and work in teams of up to 4 people.
Competition Tasks
- Students will code a story/animation using Scratch to present the problem and solution(s).
- Students will document and present their research, findings, and their ideas in one of the following formats: presentation, a model, a poster, or similar.
Who Can Participate
- High School students are encouraged to work in a group of up to 4 students, if this is not possible then individual participation is acceptable.
- No previous knowledge of Coding necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals of Coding in Scratch and Hydroelectric power at the Roadshow.
Success Criteria
- You must present your problem and solution through code in scratch. No other coding program will be accepted
- You must show you research with either presentation slides, model, poster or any other documentation (If choosing presentation slides, please make sure it is between 1 to 3 minutes)
- Your problem and solution must be clear.
- You can work in teams of up to 4 people
- Scratch Guidelines:
- A minimum of 2 sprites must be used
- Code must be written in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
- There must be a backdrop
- Code’s run time must be between 1 minute to 3 minutes
- There must be dialogue between sprites
- Use at least 3 of the following blocks in their code;
- Say
- Wait
- Repeat
- Forever
- Switch backdrop to
- Switch costume to
- Move
- Play sound until done
Ideas To Get Started
- Water can be used to create electrical energy. What happens if there’s a drought?
- Currently Australia uses mainly non-renewable energy. Shifting to renewable energy is expensive. How can we make sure that the cost price of renewable energy is affordable?
- How can the government’s intervention affect the energy crisis in Australia?
- The conservation of renewable energy has its limitations. Find a solution to conserve a specific form of renewable energy.
- Everyone can make a difference if they do their part. How can we make changes in our homes or daily lives to use renewable energy instead of non-renewable energy?
Learn To Code in Scratch
A variety of resources will be available to students to learn to code in Scratch
- A recorded session is available for students to get started L
- Live online sessions will be hosted in Term 2 to learn the basics of Scratch coding. Details will be sent to registered participants.
- Face to face sessions will be available for registration in the Snowy Hydro region. More details to come.
Teachers are encouraged to use this competition as an opportunity to introduce their students to Coding and offer Coding as a regular subject in term 3/4. We have created detailed lesson plans and offer teacher training and support to assist you throughout the process.
- Register yourself for the competition along with your students. You are able to copy and paste student details in the registration form.
- Attend teacher's briefing session that will outline all the essential competition details. This session equips you with the necessary information about the competition and will enable you to plan your term activities.
- Attend training session specifically tailored to teaching Scratch Coding in the classroom. This training will equip you with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to confidently guide your students in their coding endeavors.
- Drop-in to online Town Hall sessions with our team where you can connect with other passionate educators who are also embarking on their coding teaching journey. This session serves as a valuable check-in following the initial training, offering a supportive environment where you can share experiences and receive guidance from your peers.
- Need more support? We are only an email away to address any questions or concerns you may have along the way. Our dedicated team is committed to assisting you in overcoming any challenges in your students entering this competition.
- Already Inspired? Want to fully immerse your school in the world of STEM learning, we encourage you to explore our school incursions. These immersive programs provide hands-on experiences and interactive activities that will ignite the passion for coding in your students, fostering a love for technology and innovation.
Theme
The Power of Water – Learn about renewable energy and hydro electricityCompetition Tasks
- Students will explore resources from Snowy Hydro and other sources to learn more about renewable energy and hydro electricity.
- Students will build a physical model using blocks showcasing what they have learnt from Snowy Hydro. Submit photos or video (preferred) of up to 2 minutes to describe the model and learning.
- Students in Kindy to Year 2
- No previous knowledge is required.
- The model must be built primarily using blocks/bricks (e.g. LEGO(R) bricks)
- The model must be labelled
- Submit up to 5 pictures or a video less than 2 minutes in duration. Do not include any faces in the media for privacy reasons
- A model of a Power station
- Working model of a turbine
- Model of Snowy Hydro facility
- How Snowy Hydro use water to generate electrical energy
- Register your interest at the bottom of the page and receive all the resources required for the competition.
Theme
The Power of Water – Learn and showcase how Snowy Hydro use water to generate electricityCompetition Tasks
- Students will explore resources from Snowy Hydro and other sources to learn more about renewable energy and Hydro electricity.
- Students will code a short story in Scratch showcasing what they have learnt from Snowy Hydro. Students will be provided with a situation (below) and will use their imagination and their coding skills to showcase their learnings about how water is used to generate electricity.
- Students will ‘share’ and submit their Scratch projects.
Scratch Starter Project
- Two friends Dee and Abbie are off to the Snowy Mountains with their parents. They decide to explore the Snowy Mountains but find themselves off course!
- They see a powerstation in the distance and decide to go explore it.
- Use the Scratch starter project to create a story that depicts Dee and Abbie’s journey of discovering how renewable energy is utilized by Snowy Hydro to generate electricity
Who Can Participate
- Students in years 3 to 6
- No previous knowledge of Coding necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals of Coding in Scratch and Hydroelectric power at the Roadshow
Success Criteria
- A minimum of 2 sprites must be used
- Reference to how a turbine works or looks like must be made
- Code must be written in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
- There must be a backdrop
- Code’s run time must be between 1 minute to 3 minutes
- There must be dialogue between sprites
- Use at least 3 of the following blocks in their code;
- Say
- Wait
- Repeat
- Forever
- Switch backdrop to
- Switch costume to
- Move
- Play sound until done
Ideas To Get Started
- Dee and Abbie shrink themselves to go explore the inside of a turbine and see what it does
- Dee and Abbie jump on a miniature spaceship and fly around the turbine to see what it does
- Dee and Abbie find a tour guide at Snowy Hydro who explains what the turbines do
- Dee and Abbie find themselves in water going straight into the turbine
- Dee and Abbie find a Kangaroo and hop on it to go explore the Power station
Learn To Code In Scratch
A variety of resources will be available to students to learn to code in Scratch.- A recorded session is available for students to get started
- Live online sessions will be hosted in Term 2 to learn the basics of Scratch coding. Details will be sent to registered participants.
- Face to face sessions will be available for registration in the Snowy Hydro region. More details to come.
Theme
Identify a real-world problem that is associated with transition towards Renewable Energy, research the problem, and present a solution(s) for it.Competition Context
- The world is currently grappling with an energy crisis, and Australia is no exception. To tackle this issue, it is crucial that we move away from our reliance on Non-Renewable Energy and transition towards Renewable Energy sources. While Renewable Energy offers numerous benefits over Non-Renewable Energy, it is not without its challenges.
- One significant problem associated with Renewable Energy is its intermittency. Solar and wind power, for instance, depend on weather conditions and are therefore not consistently available. To address this issue, researchers are exploring various solutions, such as energy storage systems and demand response strategies.
- One potential solution is the use of energy storage systems, such as batteries, to store excess energy generated by Renewable Energy sources during times of low demand. This stored energy can then be used during periods of high demand, effectively balancing the supply and demand of energy.
- Another solution is demand response, which involves incentivizing consumers to reduce their energy usage during peak periods. By shifting their energy consumption to off-peak hours, consumers can help to alleviate strain on the energy grid and reduce the need for additional energy generation.
- Overall, while the transition towards Renewable Energy presents some challenges, solutions such as energy storage systems and demand response strategies can help to address these issues and pave the way towards a more sustainable energy future.
- Your objective is to identify an issue related to transition towards Renewable Energy, research the topic, and present a resolution via a Scratch story or animation. You can bring all your friends together and work in teams of up to 4 people.
Competition Tasks
- Students will code a story/animation using Scratch to present the problem and solution(s).
- Students will document and present their research, findings, and their ideas in one of the following formats: presentation, a model, a poster, or similar.
Who Can Participate
- High School students are encouraged to work in a group of up to 4 students, if this is not possible then individual participation is acceptable.
- No previous knowledge of Coding necessary. Students will learn the fundamentals of Coding in Scratch and Hydroelectric power at the Roadshow.
Success Criteria
- You must present your problem and solution through code in scratch. No other coding program will be accepted
- You must show you research with either presentation slides, model, poster or any other documentation (If choosing presentation slides, please make sure it is between 1 to 3 minutes)
- Your problem and solution must be clear.
- You can work in teams of up to 4 people
- Scratch Guidelines:
- A minimum of 2 sprites must be used
- Code must be written in Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
- There must be a backdrop
- Code’s run time must be between 1 minute to 3 minutes
- There must be dialogue between sprites
- Use at least 3 of the following blocks in their code;
- Say
- Wait
- Repeat
- Forever
- Switch backdrop to
- Switch costume to
- Move
- Play sound until done
Ideas To Get Started
- Water can be used to create electrical energy. What happens if there’s a drought?
- Currently Australia uses mainly non-renewable energy. Shifting to renewable energy is expensive. How can we make sure that the cost price of renewable energy is affordable?
- How can the government’s intervention affect the energy crisis in Australia?
- The conservation of renewable energy has its limitations. Find a solution to conserve a specific form of renewable energy.
- Everyone can make a difference if they do their part. How can we make changes in our homes or daily lives to use renewable energy instead of non-renewable energy?
Learn To Code in Scratch
A variety of resources will be available to students to learn to code in Scratch- A recorded session is available for students to get started L
- Live online sessions will be hosted in Term 2 to learn the basics of Scratch coding. Details will be sent to registered participants.
- Face to face sessions will be available for registration in the Snowy Hydro region. More details to come.
- Register yourself for the competition along with your students. You are able to copy and paste student details in the registration form.
- Attend teacher's briefing session that will outline all the essential competition details. This session equips you with the necessary information about the competition and will enable you to plan your term activities.
- Attend training session specifically tailored to teaching Scratch Coding in the classroom. This training will equip you with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to confidently guide your students in their coding endeavors.
- Drop-in to online Town Hall sessions with our team where you can connect with other passionate educators who are also embarking on their coding teaching journey. This session serves as a valuable check-in following the initial training, offering a supportive environment where you can share experiences and receive guidance from your peers.
- Need more support? We are only an email away to address any questions or concerns you may have along the way. Our dedicated team is committed to assisting you in overcoming any challenges in your students entering this competition.
- Already Inspired? Want to fully immerse your school in the world of STEM learning, we encourage you to explore our school incursions. These immersive programs provide hands-on experiences and interactive activities that will ignite the passion for coding in your students, fostering a love for technology and innovation.
What Are the Prizes?
Each year group will have three prizes as per below.
First Prize
Individual Prize:
- VIP experience in the Immersive Theatre – Discovery Centre Cooma
- STEM prize pack to the value of $100
- Food and drink catered for at the Discovery Centre Cafe
Group Prize:
- VIP experience in the Immersive theatre – Discovery Centre Cooma
- STEM gift bag for each member of the group
- Food box each and drink catered for at the Discovery Centre Cafe
Second Prize
- STEM prize pack to the value of $75
Third Prize
- AARAS Education School Holiday Program (Face to Face or Online)
All participants will receive an appreciation certificate from AARAS Education.
Any costs or expenses which are incurred by a Prize Winner(s) in connection with a Prize including travel are the responsibility of the Prize Winner. AARAS Education term or school holiday programs are subject to acceptance of terms and conditions.
All participants will receive an appreciation certificate from AARAS Education.
How To Register
- Online registration on our website must be completed by a parent, guardian, or a teacher.
- Further instructions, resources and competition details will be sent following the registration.
Submission
- Submission instructions will be provided in later term 3 to registered participants.
- See competition key dates below.
Key Dates
| Event | Date |
| STEM Competition Registration Opens | 18 May 2023 |
|
Learn to Code Workshops – for students (individual/non-school registrations) |
Session 1 – Online: 3rd July 2023 Session 2 – Online: 25th Aug 2023 (4:30 – 5:30pm) Session 3 – Burwood Library: 2nd Sep 2023 (11:30am -1:30pm) Session 4 – Casula Library: 26 Sep 2023 (2:30pm – 4pm) Session 5 – Online: 5 Oct 2023 (10:30am – 12pm) |
|
Learn to Code – Online session for teachers |
17 July 2023 (Teacher Development Day) |
| Entries Due | 8th Oct 2023 – Extended to 22nd Oct 2023 |
| Winners Announced | 8th Nov 2023 |
Registration
Please read the following registration instructions below.
- Please complete the registration form below. Kids under the age of 13 will need their parent or legal guardian to fill out the form.
- All registrations are confirmed subject to the acceptance of our Competition Terms and Conditions.
- On registration, you will receive an acknowledgment from hello@welovestem.com.au email address. Please add this email address to your safe list as we will send future correspondence from this email address. Please check your junk mail folders if you do not receive this email in a few minutes after registration.