Scitech's DIY Kits bring hands-on science experiences into the classroom

At Scitech we know the importance of hands-on and interactive experiences for science learning, and our DIY Kits bring that interactivity directly into the classroom.

Scitech’s DIY Kits allow teachers, of all science abilities, in registered Western Australian schools to hire equipment and lesson instructions to conduct engaging science experiments in the classroom.

We have been complementing science classroom teaching through our DIY Kits for more than 15 years. By making a range of specialised science resources accessible for teachers across Western Australia, the kits support teachers to provide practical science lessons and engage their students in scientific concepts in a hands-on way. The kits also help reduce the time pressure of sourcing content and materials for the term, meaning teachers have time to build on and extend the experiments provided by the kits with further investigations.

Each kit contains everything needed to teach up to eight weeks’ worth of themed lessons and investigations and comes with online resource books, worksheets and planners that are free for teachers to download and keep even after their kit hire has finished. The kits are designed around the Western Australian Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6, with a DIY Science Kit for each of the science strands – Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth & Space Sciences. There is also a DIY Telescope Kit for all year levels and a Robotics and Coding Kit for Years 7-8.

DIY Kits Coordinator Stephanie Massara said she is always looking for feedback from teachers on how the kits are working in the classroom and even to get ideas for new resources to add to the kits.

“This year we added the name of a famous scientist to each kit, who worked in the field of science the kit is themed around. For example, Nancy T. Burbidge was an Australian botanist and is on the Biological Sciences Kit. Teachers can get students to research the scientist to show students how what they are learning in the classroom has real world application,” she said.

“It’s so rewarding being able to provide these resources to teachers, including those in regional and rural areas, and we get such amazing responses from teachers on how enthusiastic and engaged their students are when doing the experiments and investigations from the kits.”

As a Science Specialist Teacher at Aspiri Primary School, Bek Armishaw found she needed more variety of resources to cater for students across Years 1 – 6, and as a result has hired out all four of Scitech’s DIY Science Kits.

“Having all the equipment, prepared materials and sequenced lessons each term helps me to manage my workload and allows me to facilitate hands-on lessons every week with all classes. Student participation is high when using the resources from the kits which helps them to understand the science concepts being taught. They ask questions about upcoming lessons and understand how to take care of the equipment knowing we have to return it,” she said.

“The Scitech team are always there to provide additional information when needed and they have even answered questions from my students. It’s amazing to have a wonderful team behind the DIY Kits that I feel supported and encouraged by!”

Scitech’s DIY Kits are supported by Rio Tinto, part of a two year partnership which also includes the Rio Tinto Innovation Central space in the Scitech Discovery Centre.

Find out how to hire a Scitech DIY Kit.