STEM Education

Year 3/4 Engineers Without Borders Excursion

"Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been."

-Theodore Von Karman

On Thursday December 5, all year 3/4 STEM classes participated in an incursion lead by engineering students at Melbourne University through an organisation called Engineers Without Borders. During this workshop students explored Problem Based Learning. Students were introduced to a real-world problem and the idea that house design in parts of the world is based on climate, materials, accessibility and affordability. Students spent some time exploring what it would be like to live in Cambodia and unpacking the problem and solutions of building appropriate housing. The different roles engineers can have within society was also discussed. During a hands-on activity, students built a floating house once they explored the concepts of appropriate technologies. Students were able to experience all aspects of engineering problem solving, starting with planning a design, working within a budget and then building and testing that design. Students considered the concept of buoyancy as well as learning how the accessibility, availability, and affordability of these materials impact both the first and third world countries. They were able to understand how simple and effective engineering solutions can meet the needs of developing nations and communities.

Year 5/6 Swinburne University STEM Day (Hawthorn)

"On Friday the 6th of December a selected group of 20 Year 5/6 students attended the Swinburne University Hawthorn STEM Day. Earlier this semester we entered our frog bog into the CEM STEM MAD competition, and this was the prize awarded to us from Swinburne University. We were lucky enough to win this trip to Swinburne thanks to the amazing work of all the Year 5/6 students.

 

The day began with a short explanation on how important Engineering is in today’s world. Later on we did some challenges including ‘how many beans can you get on you boat,’ a challenge where we needed to build a boat and see how many beans you could get on it (The winner got 690!)."

-Lilyana Talarico Year 6

Please see below the outline of the STEM day, facilitated by Felicity Feury (Director, Industry Partnerships. Engineering Practice Academy | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology).

Swinburne STEM Day Run Sheet 

Friday 6 December 2019

Headstart Week:

Year 6 into Year 7 Science Transition Morning.

On Tuesday, Year 6 students worked as Year 7 Science students during the Headstart program. Students were extremely excited to wear laboratory coats and safety glasses and participate in an experiment where students made ‘Elephant Toothpaste’. Students created a giant foaming reaction, and used science to experience wonder and awe in this classic activity. With just a few ingredients they made something that looked like foamy toothpaste being squeezed from a tube—but so big that it looked almost fit for an elephant!

Before the students conducted the experiment, we deeply explored relevant scientific concepts which included: the 3 states of matter (solids, liquids, gases), the particle theory, chemical reactions, catalysts, energy and variables. I was extremely impressed with the questions and excitement around using the chemical ‘Hydrogen Peroxide’. It was an absolute pleasure to teach such curious learners and I wish them all the best as they move into Science Learning in the Secondary School space.

A big thank you to Michelle Fortunato (parent and Maths/Science/PE teacher at Ave Maria College in Aberfeldie) for kindly loaning St Raphael’s the science equipment to complete the experiment which in turn gave the students a real-life experience of what Science may be like at secondary school. Michelle also very kindly volunteered two hours of her time to teach the students and give them a taste of Year 7 Mathematics. Students valued the experience and are all very much looking forward to secondary school. 

Note: (The students are encouraged to conduct this experiment at home as all of the ingredients are available at their local supermarkets)

Headstart Week:

Year 6 into Year 7 Robotics Transition Morning.

This morning, all Year 6 students participated in a Robotics incursion facilitated by Brady and Rob, who are current secondary teachers at Santa Maria College. Students were given the opportunity to code Sphero Robots and problem solve ways of navigating through obstacle courses. It was a fantastic 90-minute experience for the students who used creative and critical thinking to code the Sphero. It was also another opportunity for the girls who are enrolled at Santa Maria College in 2020 to meet and work with their future teachers. Many thanks to Brady and Rob who gave up their morning to share in the St Raphael’s learning community.