Science Technology Engineering and Maths
STEM
Foundation
Our Foundation students have been exploring the world of forces by making their very own kites! This project introduced them to the idea that pushes and pulls can make objects move in different ways. As they decorated and tested their kites, students began to see how the wind interacts with the paper and string, hopefully sparking some early scientific curiosity about how and why things move. The joy on their faces as their kites lifted off showed the perfect mix of fun and learning.
Year 1 and 2
Year 1 and 2 students have taken their exploration of forces a step further. They began by designing parachutes to investigate how air resistance slows falling objects, testing different sizes and materials to see which would float the longest. After mastering parachutes, students moved on to kites, where they could compare how air interacts differently with objects that glide upward rather than fall down. Through these experiments, students discovered that forces can act in many directions and have different effects depending on an object’s shape and design.
Year 3
In Year 3, students have been busy in the digital design space! They recently finished creating their own unique desk pets using TinkerCAD, a 3D design program and are now shifting their focus to designing a special clubhouse for their new companions. This project marks the start of the design cycle, with students currently working in the planning phase. They are brainstorming, sketching and sharing ideas to ensure their clubhouses will meet their desk pets’ needs.
Year 4
Year 4 students are embarking on a technology challenge with Makey Makey boards. Using Miro, an online collaborative planning tool, they are mapping out their designs for interactive projects such as real-life arcade games and musical guitars with touch buttons. By connecting their creations to Makey Makey boards, students will learn how to build closed circuits that can trigger responses on a computer. This means their handmade inventions will come to life, pressing a button might play a sound, move a character, or even launch a game. It’s a wonderful mix of engineering, coding and creativity!
Year 5
Year 5 students are in the final planning stages of their inventions to help create “a better tomorrow.” They have been thinking deeply about problems in the world around them and coming up with innovative solutions. Ideas include accessible playgrounds that can be enjoyed by all children, systems to filter water and remove rubbish or vending machines for sports equipment that encourage active lifestyles. Students are drawing on design thinking skills to refine their concepts, preparing to take their bold and imaginative ideas into the next stage of development.
Year 6
Our Year 6 students are putting their creativity and coding skills into practice in Minecraft! After carefully budgeting and planning their builds, they are now constructing their dream homes in the game. Along the way, they are learning to use command codes to make the process more efficient for example, filling large areas in seconds using coordinate-based commands. This project not only strengthens their understanding of coding and mathematics but also encourages problem-solving, resource management and attention to detail.
Photos: George and Levi from 6B are using their plan to create their Minecraft home.
Photo: Rania with her designs and budgeting, ready to start her design.
