STEM News
What are students doing right now in STEM?
Foundation students have been following and creating sequences using directional vocabulary and the buttons on a Bluebot robotic device. Students are increasing their skills by trying to create a sequence for their Bluebot that moves from a start location to an end location, avoiding obstacles in OVE Parents can support their children at home by using directional language, helping children to identify their left and right.
Instructing the Bluebot to go from one coloured square to another, avoiding the horse!
Grade 1 and grade 2 students are learning about space and have been so engaged! They learned about the rocky planets and gas giants as well as other celestial objects such as the asteroid belt and dwarf planets. Students have completed or are in the process of completing their learning task to order the planets which will be available for parents to view shortly.
The learning task required students to order the planets from the closest to the Sun and including the asteroid belt. Students were invited to colour the planets, and some students added additional celestial objects!
Grade 3 and grade 4 students recently visited IMAX and the museum.
Back at school, students have completed a learning task demonstrating their understanding of the Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change which should be visible on Compass. We will be continuing our learning through some hands-on demonstrations. Students have been tasked with designing a house that can withstand severe weather events, using Minecraft.
Simulating a tornado – a severe weather event that will increase in frequency due to climate change
Grade 5/6 students are well into their Scratch coding of a game. They have started to write code that makes their sprites move smoothly and defines the starting conditions.
An example of a student game, with some code for movement and starting conditions included
Kim Miter
What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. These subject areas will be explored throughout the school year, with a change of focus in each term.
Science includes:
- Science as a human endeavour - the nature and development of science, and the use and influence of science. In simpler terms, how has science improved our lives.
- Scientific Understanding - which includes biological sciences, chemical sciences, physical sciences, and earth and space sciences.
- Science inquiry - using the scientific process to investigate.
Design Technologies includes:
- Technologies and Society - focuses on how people use and develop technologies while taking into account ethical considerations such as legal, aesthetic and functional factors.
- Technologies Contexts- which includes engineering principles and systems, food and fibre production, food specialisations, materials and technologies specialisations.
- Creating Designed Solutions - using the design process to explore systems, services, and products.
Digital Technologies includes:
- Digital Systems and Security - focuses on hardware, software, and networks, and well as cyber security.
- Data, Information, and Privacy- focuses on data
Creating Designed Solutions - creating simple algorithms using robotics or coding languages