STEM News
What are students doing right now in STEM?
Foundation students have started a new unit as part of the Digital Technologies curriculum. They are learning about sequences, and how to instruct a robotic device. Parents can support their children at home by using directional language, helping children to identify their left and right.
Bluebots in use by students and an image that displays the directional language in use
Grade 1 and grade 2 students are learning about space. So far, they’ve learned lots of new words like ‘constellation’ and ‘celestial’, and have been busy with some hands on learning. In the first week, students made hand held planetariums that you can shine a light through to reveal a constellation. Students also learned about the tools that astronomers used to explore space, and designed space probes. ( Note: grade students are still to do this task). Below are some of their creations!
Students working on the space probes. Lots of students opted for a metallic look, and the old CDs were very popular as antennae!
Grade 3 and grade 4 students have been learning about climate. Students have used the scientific process to demonstrate the Greenhouse effect, and learned how to read a thermometer and take observations over a period of time. We are looking forward to our excursion to IMAX in week 4 to watch a 3D movie about Wild Weather that will support our learning about climate change. In preparation for the excursion, we ask that all students are in full school uniform, have their lunch and snack packed in a bag and be at school on time.
Grade 5/6 students have begun their new unit that will see them coding a game using Scratch. Scratch is a block coding program. So far, students have tested some Scratch games that I have created in order to inspire their creativity. Students have chosen the stage to their games, selected their sprites, and considered the game play.
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