“The project teaches them to work in teams, and to get advice from outside the school.”

Asked for his most significant achievement, he focuses on his students.

“What matters to me is that the students want to come to school,” he said.

“In the morning they’ll run off the bus to get to class. And the students are keen to stay back to work on projects.

“They continue to question and critically analyse to formulate their own understandings and points of view.”

Mr Whittome has made sure the resources are there for the job.

He’s developed links with a wide range of industry and government partners including TiWest, Griffin Energy and the WA agriculture department.

Students alsdo participate in competitions, awards programs and community projects including the NATA Young Scientist of the Year awards, the Earthwatch Teachlive Whale Sharks of Ningaloo project, Community Hydrogen Fuel Vehicle Challenge and the F1in Schools program.

Mr Whittome, who farms wheat and sheep, has a deep understanding of the land and the role of science in his farming and his custodianship of the land.

From architecture at university he turned to design, technology and science teaching.

The two have come together in his role as science teacher at Badgingarra Primary School.

“Allan ensures that the science program is integrated into the whole curriculum and is not seen as a subject in isolation,” said school principal Jim Cassin.

“Consequently the children see science as a part of life and not just something that is done at school.”

Mr Whittome said many primary teachers have a perception that science is hard to teach.

“They remember their own high school science with its textbooks and a focus on learning the facts,” he said.“But primary science isn’t like that. It’s something that the kids can experence day to day and can question in the classroom.

“Primary school science is easy and fun to teach. And it can act like mortar holding the other learning together and giving it a purpose.”

Mr Whittome has been spreading the word in his local cluster of primary schools.

He’s frequently demonstrating new ideas and projects with them and helping them find the resources needed for the job.

In this International Year of Astronomy, his peers have been rising to the challenge. Throughout the region there have been star nights and other astronomy activities.

Mr Whittome believes his future is in the classroom.

“My job satisfaction all comes from the students and their learning plus being able to learn along with them,” he said.

But he’s also keen to extend his outreach to fellow teachers.

“I want to use the web more—using wikis and discussion groups to share ideas and encouraging primary teachers across Western Australia to bring science to life in the classroom.

“Modern technologies now mean we don’t have to be isolated because we are rural, we can be connected and support each other.”