Science passion earns teacher award

A Dunsborough teacher has received a State award for bringing science to the classroom.

Helena Nicholson’s passion for the subject was recognised at the Science Teacher’s Association of Western Australia’s State conference in Perth last month, where she was awarded the Primary Science Award.

Mrs Nicholson, who first started teaching in 1996, summed up her philosophy as “kids do remarkable things when they have remarkable things to do”.

“I employ as much ‘hands on’ as possible in my science classes, which leads to ‘wow’ moments and deeper understanding, ” she said. “My students love science.”

Dunsborough Primary School is a Teacher Development School in science and Mrs Nicholson encourages her students to consider the effects of science in the real world.

“Students need to be global citizens and need to consider their world beyond their own backyard, ” she said.

“I lead sustainability initiatives at Dunsborough Primary and the students have these practices embedded into their daily lives at school and this flows on to home.”

Mrs Nicholson said she was delighted to be recognised for doing the work she loves and proud to be teaching a new generation of “citizen scientists”.