STEM

What a wonderful start to STEM we’ve had. The Foundation students have been building a waterfront neighbourhood which we hope to expand on over the next few weeks. The 1/2’s have been helping a crafty Tortoise take an unfair advantage in a race with a boastful Hare. Not that he needed it. The 3/4’s have been enabling the Three Little Pigs to live independently and without fear of the Big Bad Wolf. And the 5/6’s have tried their hands at yacht racing… or their Sphero BOLT robots have at least.

All in the name of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. 

This Term:

Foundation are exploring the world around them by building houses, vehicles, gardens, and roads with the use of Lego and wooden train tracks. They’re experimenting with 3D design and producing work on both a horizontal and vertical plane. The work is interest based so engineering challenges will be adapted to suit the themes that arise. 

Level 1/2 and Level 3/4 are both learning to consider a design brief, create a solution and record their work in a digital portfolio. They’re engineering solutions to problems in classic children’s stories such as The Hare and The Tortoise, The Three Little Pigs, and The Gingerbread Man. The open ended tasks allow the students at all levels to contribute ideas, present  and evaluate their designs, and improve on future outcomes.

Level 5/6 are using the Sphero BOLT robots to learn about block coding with an introduction to coding in JavaScript for those that are ready. They are learning about synchronous and asynchronous programming (happening at the same time or happening independently). They are also practicing the use of measurements in degrees, distance and time.