FlushBack Digital Scavenger Hunt: Primary
Step back in time in this Augmented Reality scavenger hunt in the Spotswood Pumping Station.
Meet characters from the past and help them solve STEM problems in this gamified learning experience in the heritage listed Spotswood Pumping Station.
Students must attempt to stop Melbourne from becoming Smellbourne as they explore science, engineering and history.
After a brief introduction from a staff member, students roam the Pumping Station with iPads and complete Augmented Reality challenges led by animated characters they meet around the space.
This award-winning game is curriculum-aligned, historically accurate, interdisciplinary and fun for all ages. If your students like to keep moving, they’ll love this.
Students will experience
- Exploring the Spotswood Pumping station in pairs.
- Using iPads to scan icons that load Augmented Reality characters and animations that bring the Spotswood Pumping Station to life.
- Meeting colourful characters from the past who teach them how the Pumping Station worked.
- Helping characters by solving problems on a scavenger hunt through the heritage building.
- Game activities including: stoking the boilers to the right pressure, identifying what’s blocking the sewer, helping an old man find his false teeth, and identifying the bacteria growing in the pipes.
Students will learn
- The rich history and science of the Spotswood Pumping Station, including the role of female scientist Lucey Alford.
- That water is an important resource which cycles through our cities and environment, and that we need to take care of it.
- How the sewage system plays a part in our daily lives and the water cycle of a city.
- That scientists and engineers use their skills and technology to solve problems that affect people and everyday life.
- That augmented reality combines real world experiences with augmented and animated elements on a device, and can be used in games for learning.
Related links
Availability
Terms 1–4, Monday to Friday
Duration: 50 minutes
Student information
Years 3 to 6
Bookings
Presentation
Self-guided exhibition visit with provided activity
Victorian Curriculum Links
Science: Levels 3 and 4
Earth and space sciences
- water is an important Earth resource that originates from various sources; water cycles through the environment by moving through the sky, landscape and ocean, and involves processes including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation, melting, freezing, crystallisation, infiltration and run-off (VC2S4U07)
Use and influence of science
- scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by people to explain how they will meet a need or solve a problem (VC2S4H02)
Design and Technologies: Levels 3 and 4
Technologies and society
- the role of people in design and technologies occupations and factors including sustainability that impact on the design of solutions to meet community needs (VC2TDE4S01)
Science: Levels 5 and 6
Use and influence of science
- scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions (VC2S6H02)
Design and Technologies: Levels 5 and 6
Technologies and society
- how people in design and technologies occupations consider competing ethical factors including sustainability in the design of products, services and environments (VC2TDE6S01)
Materials and technologies specialisations
- explain how characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components and tools affect their use when producing designed solutions (VC2TDE6C04)
Accessibility
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund
The Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund aims to enhance access to our museums (Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and Immigration Museum), programs and events by offering free or subsidised education programs for eligible schools. Find out more about the fund.
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