What an incredible and busy week we’ve had at school celebrating STEM Week. The children have enjoyed a jam-packed schedule full of exciting investigations, hands-on experiments, and fascinating discoveries.
On Monday, we explored air resistance and investigated which materials make the best parachutes. After watching clips of parachutes in action, the children decided that lightweight materials with no holes would work best. Using carrier bags, they created their own parachutes and had a fantastic time testing them from Mr. Towers’s balcony.
Tuesday was all about perseverance and discovery. In a Growth Mindset workshop, Miss Tyrell read some wonderful books about not giving up, reminding us that if we can’t do something, we just can’t do it yet. The excitement continued with a visit from a fire engine, where the children asked thoughtful questions about the materials used in firefighter clothing to keep them safe from heat and flames.
In class, we explored how different materials change when heated, observing plastic, crayons, ice, chocolate, and butter throughout the day. To do this, we gently warmed the materials on the windowsill in the sunshine and next to the radiator, checking on them regularly to see how they changed over time.
On Wednesday, the children designed and built houses for dragons, putting their creations to the test with a hairdryer to see which structures were the strongest.
Thursday’s investigation focused on how changing the surface of a ramp affects a vehicle’s movement. The children tested different materials, including wood, grass, foil, and bubble wrap, to see how they impacted speed and friction. They had great fun whizzing the fire engine down the ramps and measuring the distance each one travelled.
We ended the week with the fantastic Wonderdome experience, an incredible way to wrap up a week full of exciting learning.