What's On In STEM

It has been another busy term in STEM, with our Foundation students learning about weather and seasons, and our Year 1–6 students engaging in the Design and Technologies curriculum.

Our Foundation students have been learning about different types of weather and how symbols are used to represent weather conditions, just like those seen in weather forecasts. They also explored how rain clouds work and participated in a science experiment where they predicted how many drops of water it would take before a cloud “rained.” Using sponges and coloured water, students tested their predictions and observed the results.

In Years 1/2, students have been learning about our waterways, who uses them, and what happens when plastic waste and rubbish enter our drains. They conducted an investigation into the amount of rubbish in our school grounds and explored existing solutions, such as the number of bins and drain covers around the school. Students then experienced first-hand how difficult it is to remove rubbish, chemicals, and oil from waterways during a mock ocean clean-up activity that was fun, loud, and messy! After discovering how challenging it can be to clean polluted water, they designed and created their own water filters using bottles, coffee filters, cloth, sand, rocks, and other materials. When they poured dirty water through their filters, they discovered that while the water was not completely clear, it was significantly cleaner.

Our Year 3/4 students are gearing up for the upcoming Specialist Expo and are incredibly excited to share their carnival games with you on Tuesday, September 1. Save the date—and your loose change! Before beginning the design process, students explored a variety of carnival-style games using PE equipment. They learned about different types of carnival games, including some that are intentionally designed to be difficult or even impossible to win. Students then used this knowledge to design and create their own carnival games using recycled materials.

Our Year 5/6 students have been working extremely hard to design and create miniature rooms. They have constructed floors, walls, and miniature furniture while carefully considering size and proportion. Students have also learned how to create working circuits to incorporate either a moving component or a light-up feature into their designs. The Year 6 students will have their projects on display at Graduation, while the Year 5 students will showcase theirs at the upcoming Specialist Expo next term.

We’re looking forward to our Digital Technologies unit next term!