The Pally Patch Revival Investigation is a whole school initiative aimed at discovering (and rediscovering) the STEM learning potential of a beautiful, developed garden set on a half-acre section of land located at the east end of Palmyra PS. The project has two broad objectives. 1. Investigating and studying the Pally Patch to gain a better understanding of its importance as an ecosystem for plants and animals. 2. Improving the Pally Patch as a learning asset that can be further utilized as a learning space at the school. 

Aligned with the theme ‘Seeds of the Universe’, the program will be initiated by investigations coordinated by the Girls in STEM Group from Curtin University who will be visiting Palmyra and conducting a series of five weekly STEM workshops for the Year 5 girls early in Term 3. The initial workshops will serve as a precursor leading up to National Science Week, with culminating sessions taking place during the event itself.

Students from Year 1-6 will be focusing on investigating six broadly mapped landmarks within the Pally Patch. 1. Frog Pond, 2. Compost Area, 3. Ampitheatre, 4. Vegetable Patch, 5. Aquaponics Shelter and 6. Walk-in Greenhouse

Students will be working in groups to investigate each of the landmarks in more detail. Lower primary will be determining biotic and abiotic factors. Middle primary will focus on the different trophic levels living within each ecosystem and soil sampling, while upper primary will be involved with mapping, identifying different species of plants and determining whether the species of plants are native, introduced or invasive. A focus will also be made at identifying indigenous plants and how they are used within Noongar culture.

Science Week will also be complemented by a special visit from the Engineers Without Borders who will providing sustainability workshops  and AI Lift off; an organisation who will assist upper primary using Teachable Machine for collating and organising data.

A Science Week whole school assembly will conclude the investigation and findings, recommendations and future action for the Pally Patch will be communicated to students, parents and the wider community.