STEM News
Dear fellow scientists,
Prep students are identifying the different reasons that people use technology. Students sorted a range of activities into categories showing how technology can be used for Fun, Learning about the World, and Communication. This helped them understand the many ways technology supports our daily lives. Students also reflected on their own experiences with technology by drawing pictures showing how they use technology at home or school. Watch this video on: Technology for Kids: What is Technology? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fno0L_XsdWM
Grade 1 students are learning to explore how digital technologies can help solve familiar problems. Students worked collaboratively with their groups to finish building their model robots. They used teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity to complete their designs. We also discussed how digital technologies help us learn new things. Students explored examples such as using computers, tablets, videos, and educational apps to find information, develop new skills, and share their learning with others. Watch this video on Real-Life Robots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wHJjLMnikU
Grade 2 students are learning to use block coding to create an animation. Students worked collaboratively to design and build their own animations using block codes. They added four different animals to their projects and used coding blocks to make the animals move and interact on the screen. Through this activity, students developed their coding skills, creativity, and teamwork while learning how digital technologies can be used to create engaging animations. Have a go at making an Animal Animation Race at home using the Scratch Jr app! Create a fun race where different animals move across the screen and see which one reaches the finish line first.
Grade 3 students are using an app called ScratchJr to show how Aboriginal Peoples used changes in state to create tools. Students created animations that demonstrated the processes of melting and solidifying using block coding in ScratchJr. They used sequencing and animation features to explain how heating and cooling materials can change their state and be used to make tools. Students then used the success criteria to reflect on their presentations, considering how effectively they communicated the scientific process and whether their animation clearly showed the changes in state. Watch this video to learn how Aboriginal Peoples used grass tree resin: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sCZdT6P52KI
This week, Grade 4 students are creating a digital book that shows the sequence of steps needed to set up a rain gauge. Students added typed text to explain each step in the process and included pictures to help readers understand how to correctly set up a rain gauge. They focused on presenting the steps in the correct order so that others could easily follow the instructions. Through this activity, students developed their digital literacy skills while learning to create clear, informative procedural texts. Watch this video and follow the instructions to create your own rain gauge using simple materials you can find at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1BUyyYtoB4
Grade 5 students are learning to create a visual program using a sequence of code. Students designed and created their own visual programs, using coding blocks to build a simple catch game. They focused on arranging the code in the correct sequence so that the game worked as intended. Through this activity, students developed their understanding of sequencing, problem-solving, and debugging as they created an interactive game. They tested their programs and made improvements to ensure the game was fun and successful. Have a go at making your very own Camouflage Clicker Game in Scratch! Visit the Scratch website, https://scratch.mit.edu/, and click Create to start designing and coding your game.
Grade 6 students are analysing the purpose of educational games and providing feedback on whether they meet their purpose. Students explored a range of educational games and discussed the reasons they were created. They identified how these games help users learn new skills, practise knowledge, or solve problems while remaining engaging and enjoyable. Students critically evaluated the games as they played them, considering factors such as how effectively the game supported learning, how easy it was to use, and whether it achieved its intended purpose. They then provided feedback, explaining whether they believed the educational games met their purpose and supporting their opinions with examples from their experience. Have a go at home using Scratch Jr! Create an animation or simple story about a natural disaster or extreme weather event using the Scratch Jr app. Here are some ideas: a volcano, a tsunami, an earthquake, a tornado, a cyclone, a flood, or a thunderstorm. https://scratch.mit.edu/
STEM team