What if you could see heat that is invisible to the human eye? Welcome to The FLIR Files, an exciting National Science Week investigation where Year 5 and Year 6 students become thermal detectives and use FLIR infrared cameras to uncover hidden heat around our school.

Students will explore playgrounds, buildings, gardens, pathways and shaded areas to discover which places become the hottest and why. Using thermal imaging technology, they will capture heat maps, compare temperatures and identify urban heat "hot spots" across the school environment. They will investigate how different materials such as concrete, asphalt, grass and artificial surfaces absorb and release heat, and consider the impact this has on people and the environment.

Working collaboratively, students will use scientific inquiry skills to ask questions, make predictions, collect data and analyse their findings. They will then explore practical solutions to reduce heat, including increasing vegetation, improving shade and selecting more sustainable materials.

For Year 6 students, The FLIR Files provides an authentic opportunity to connect their learning with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition. This year's Exhibition is centred on the transdisciplinary theme How the World Works, with students exploring issues through a sustainability lens. Using the key concept of causation, students will investigate the causes and effects of urban heat and consider how human actions and design choices influence the environment. Their findings may spark deeper inquiry into sustainability, climate action and community wellbeing.

The FLIR Files combines science, technology and sustainability in a hands-on learning experience. By seeing their school through a thermal lens, students will gain a deeper understanding of urban heat and be empowered to think creatively about designing cooler, healthier and more sustainable environments for everyone.