News from STEM

WEEK 10 | TERM 1

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

Mr Da Cruz

Grade 6 have enjoyed a bright and engaging term exploring light energy and discovering how it behaves in our everyday world. Their learning has been hands‑on, full of curiosity, and grounded in real scientific investigation.

Learning about how light works

• Students began by testing how well different materials let light pass through. Using flashlights, they explored the opacity of plastic, paper, mirrors, water, and cardboard, learning which materials block light and which allow it to shine through.
• They then investigated how light behaves when it meets water. By placing a pencil in a cup of water and holding an arrow behind it, students observed how the images appeared to bend or change direction. This helped them understand transmission, dispersion, and refraction, and they created clear scientific diagrams to show their thinking.
• The following week focused on reflection. With mirrors and black paper, students learned how light bounces off surfaces and how angles help us predict where the reflected light will travel. Catching the reflected beam on black paper made the learning especially fun and visual.

Putting their knowledge into action

To finish the unit, students worked in teams to design and complete their own light maze. Using mirrors and foil, they guided a beam of light through obstacles and towards a target. This challenge brought together everything they had learned about how light travels, bends, and reflects.

The unit has sparked plenty of excitement and scientific thinking, and it’s been wonderful to see students experimenting, problem-solving, and explaining their discoveries with confidence.