Growing Curiosity Through Science at Immaculate Heart of Mary School

National Science Week provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate curiosity and inquiry at Immaculate Heart of Mary School through a whole-school Growing Project, supported by a generous grant from ASTA.

Although our celebration culminated during National Science Week, the project began several weeks earlier so students could experience the complete process of planting, observing, measuring, and nurturing their own plants. Using funds from the ASTA grant, we purchased seeds, pots, soil, gardening supplies, and measuring tools that allowed students to engage in authentic, hands-on science investigations.

Students across Reception to Year 6 explored the question, What do plants need to grow? Working both within their classes and alongside buddy classes, students investigated the effects of sunlight, water, and soil on plant growth. They observed changes over time, made predictions, collected data, and recorded their findings in science journals through drawings, measurements, and written reflections.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project was watching students become genuinely invested in their investigations. Daily conversations about plant growth could be heard throughout the school as students compared results, discussed why some plants were growing differently from others, and eagerly checked for new shoots and leaves. The project created countless opportunities for students to ask questions, test ideas, and think like scientists.

To celebrate their learning, students shared their work through a Growing Gallery. The gallery showcased student journals, data collection, observations, photographs, and, of course, the plants themselves. Families were invited to visit during a Growing Gallery assembly and again after school, providing students with an authentic audience for their scientific discoveries. It was wonderful to see students confidently explaining their observations and sharing what they had learned about plant growth.

While National Science Week has finished, the learning continues. Students will keep monitoring, measuring, and recording plant growth throughout the remainder of the term as they deepen their understanding of plant life cycles and the environmental conditions that support healthy growth.

We are incredibly grateful to ASTA for making this project possible. The grant has provided meaningful opportunities for students to engage in hands-on science and develop important inquiry skills. We would also like to acknowledge our teachers and students, whose passion, curiosity, and commitment have helped transform a simple seed-growing activity into a school-wide scientific investigation.

This project has reminded us that sometimes the most powerful way to create curiosity is to place a seed in a child's hand and invite them to wonder what might happen next.