Access keys | Skip to primary navigation | Skip to secondary navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer |
Problems viewing this site

Science lessons on a platter

24 February 2011

Science lessons on a platter

Say cheese ... Jan Gentner and Margaret Barber from Brisbane School of Distance Education hard at work in the workshop.

Chemistry and biology class will be much more exciting with cheese making becoming a prominent lesson in Queensland schools.

The RNA, through its innovative Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show, has just completed cheese making workshops - the only program of its kind in Australia - at the RNA Showgrounds for 40 Queensland teachers from 24 different schools.

Teachers from as far as Bundaberg, Dalby and Mackay learned from internationally renowned cheese expert Russell Smith.

RNA chief executive Jonathan Tunny said it was the second year the RNA had hosted the educational workshops, offering teachers a rare chance to learn from the best and in turn go back to the classroom and engage students in a hands-on learning activity.

'After these workshops, teachers show their students how to produce award-winning camembert and blue-style cheeses for entry into the Student Cheese Making Competition at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show,' Mr Tunny said.

'Students must strive to achieve the industry standard benchmark following a formal appraisal process, gaining valuable feedback and comments from experts.'

He said the workshops provided primary students with a great educational experience as they discovered how cheese is made, where it comes from and the workings of the dairy industry.

'Education is a cornerstone of the RNA and these workshops have almost doubled in popularity with schools reporting an increase in students wanting to participate in cheese making classes,' he said.

The RNA is billing the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association Show in Brisbane in August as Queensland's Biggest Classroom and offering free teacher admission with class group bookings on designated school days.

For details visit the Ekka Learning Fun! website, or email education@ekka.com.au to receive monthly updates on the free educational resources and activities available at Ekka.