STEM News

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

What are students doing right now in STEM?

Foundation students are learning about the weather. This is a great topic to start with as students can relate to their own experiences. Scientific vocabulary and skills are being introduced, with a focus on observation.

Whilst learning about wind, students made a kite and enjoyed running around in the yard with their kites in tow.

Grade 1 and grade 2 students are learning about data. They have collected data that they have presented as an image and will work towards using digital tools to produce a graph. Here is an example of a glyph that students interpreted before creating their own version.

Students have also learned that sorting data and then quantifying the data (counting) makes the data meaningful. Here are some examples of students sorting a collection of magnetic tiles (by colour, shape, size) and cards from the game Guess Who? (boys/girls, old/young, glasses/no glasses, hat/no hat, eye colour, hair colour).

Grade 3 and grade 4 students have been building on their knowledge of creating sequences by learning about algorithms. They have begun their project to create a branching algorithm in the form of a choose your own adventure story. Students will need to create a digital story where the user can choose what happens next, requiring the students to consider multiple outcomes.

Grade 5/6 students have been learning about the Earth including the layers of the Earth. They have explored how the Earth’s surface has changed over millions of years as a result of moving tectonic plates. At these boundaries are volcanoes and earthquakes, leading us into learning about the rock cycle. We have completed some investigations into weathering and erosion, and look forward to an excursion to Organ Pipes National Park where we will observe exposed rock formations from the western lava plains. Please view Compass events and make payment before March 11th.

It's been a great start to the STEM program at Wimba in 2025, and I look forward to continuing with all students.

Kim Miter