Evy Dine, Mia Rolton, Olivia Gerhard and Skylah Price from South Corowa Public School with their compostable flower bin.
Corowa Public School last week held its inaugural Maths Muster in an exhibition of the problem-solving powers of the next generation.
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Nearly 50 students from five schools across Federation Council were given a maths and science-based project at the start of term three with 10 weeks to come up with a solution.
Working in small groups of two to four students, each group came up with their own problem which they had to solve using maths and science and present at the exhibition last Wednesday.
Corowa Public teacher Erin Widdison hosted the event which welcomed student groups from Corowa Public, South Corowa, Mulwala, Howlong and Rand to compete.
“These students are some of our high potential and gifted students,” Ms Widdison said.
“Their aim was to find a solution to a real-world problem with an environmental focus, so the solution needs to be sustainable.
“In their 10 weeks they have worked on utilising the design process to come up with that solution.
“Today gives them the opportunity to share their solution with the students from other schools and to present to a panel of judges.”
Imogen Hicks and Elliot Daly from Corowa Public School with their entry, Flood Watch.
Students tackling problems such as pollution, sustainable energy production, homelessness, and animal extinction.
The challenge was designed to extend the capabilities of high potential and gifted students, and an opportunity to socialise with students from different schools.
“It’s about getting the students to think critically, problem solve and be able to apply that later on in life,” Ms Widdison said.
“We’re trying to extend their thinking, to challenge them and provide them with those opportunities that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Archie Hamilton and Isaac Kreutzberger from Rand Public School tackled Microplastics in the Murray.
Georgia Kreutzberger, Hazel Trethowan and Sophie McCall from Rand Public School decided to tackle education in Mali (Africa).
“We think everyone should have the exact same opportunities to learn,” Sophie said.
From Corowa South Public School, Evy Dine, Mia Rolton, Olivia Gerhard and Skylah Price came up with a winning solution to encourage more composting that revolved around flowers.
“Only one third of Aussies are actually composting,” said Evy, citing the motivation behind their solution.
Makayla Kellett and Piper Talbot from Corowa Public School proposed farming palm oil on water instead of in forests.
“By farming palm oil on water, we can prevent deforestation of tiger and orangutan habitats,” Piper said.
Ms Widdison hopes to be able to conduct the Maths Muster again in the future, with a different school hosting each year.
The Winners
Stage 2
Equal 1st – Imogen Hicks and Elliot Daly – Corowa Public – Flood Watch
Equal 1st – Archie Hamilton and Isaac Kreutzberger – Rand Public – Microplastics in the Murray
3rd – Bill Smith and Jack Elliot - Corowa Public – Stop Deforestation through Gardening
Stage 3
1st – Evy Dine, Mia Rolton, Olivia Gerhard and Skylah Price – South Corowa Public – Compostable flower bin
2nd – Jake Rhodes, Meredith Rowe and Bailey Hicks – Corowa Public – Fish friendly, keeping the oceans clean
3rd – Logan Allport – Howlong Public – Building shelters for Ukrainian war victims
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