STEM Update
St Fidelis' Catholic Primary School
ST FIDELIS IS STEM GRAZY!!!
Foundation Art & STEM – Coding Creativity with Bee-Bots
This term, our Foundation students are exploring the exciting world of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – through coding and creativity! They are learning how to program Bee-Bots to follow precise instructions, combining technology and art in a hands-on way.
In today’s lesson, students became little coders and artists, using their Bee-Bots to create masterpieces inspired by Pablo Picasso. The challenge was to code the Bee-Bots to draw lines and circles, including:
- Horizontal Lines
- Vertical Lines
- Diagonal Lines
- Circles
Students experimented with overlapping lines and shapes, learning how coding can control movement and create patterns – just like a real artist! This activity not only introduced them to basic coding skills but also encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of how technology can be used to make art.
The results were amazing – lots of abstract, Picasso-style masterpieces filled with lines and circles, showing how art and STEM can come together in a fun and innovative way!
Check out their amazing Bee-Bot creations below!
Year 5/6 Art & STEM – Exploring Rockets
This term, our Year 5/6 students have been launching into the world of rockets! They began by exploring what they already know about rockets – their shapes, main parts, and how they travel into space. Students considered questions like:
- What do rockets usually look like, and why do they have those shapes?
- What parts are needed for a rocket to launch successfully?
- How do rockets overcome gravity to reach space?
- Where is the fuel stored, and how is it used during launch?
Using this knowledge, students drew and labelled their ideas, creating detailed diagrams of rockets and the launch process, including landing on the Moon. These early sketches allowed them to demonstrate their understanding and think critically about the design and function of rockets.
Teachers checked students’ diagrams and ideas to see what they already knew, helping guide the next steps in their rocket design and STEM learning. It was an exciting start to combining art, science, and creativity in one hands-on project!
Specialist Teacher | Joe Frazzetto