Skittle Toy
This week, our STEM project has been to make our own version of a Victorian skittle game. The children were shown a big version at the start of the week and then had to design and make their own table top version. They have measured, sawn and drilled, solved problems, worked cooperatively to finish their toys. They have also written sets of instructions to tell others how to play the game.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have the time to make a toy for every person so the children worked in pairs. If your child doesn’t bring the toy home, they’ll take home some of the left over materials so that they can make their own at home.
Trapped in the ice!
In this science experiment, children had to consider how they could help some goblins escape from the ice. They had to think scientifically: justifying their predictions, deciding how they’d make it a fair test and how they’d measure their results accurately.
Trapped in the ice!
In a Science lesson this week, we investigated how we could release some people who were trapped in ice!
Children had to think about how they could release the people. There were lost of suggestions: smashing the ice, melting it by using hot water, the sun, a radiator, using salt, using the warmth from our hands.
We tested some of these and measured how quickly the ice was melting by measuring how much water had melted and how much they had melted by observing them carefully.
James Mayhew Homework
Thanks for all the letters and emails to James Mayhew. We’ve even had a response from the author to Will’s email!
Below are some of our favourite homeworks. A special mention to Albie’s letter and Harris’ email which were also chosen as favourites.
Day 4 of STEM week
Our brilliant STEM week continued today as we were visited by a representative from Marks and Spencer’s. We learnt about one of their biggest sellers: ‘Melt in the Middle Chocolate Pudding’. After learning about the history of the organisation, we learnt all about the chocolate desserts.
For example, did you know emulsifiers are used to ensure the cake lasts longer? They help the natural oils and waters remain mixed so you don’t get an oily pudding. After a bit more theory we were lucky enough to do a taste test. We sampled the pudding and gave it scores out of 5 – full marks from me!
After that, we reflected on some learning from Monday afternoon about staying safe online. We made iMovies to inform others of the dangers around online hackers.
A collage of our learning.
STEM week
It’s been a busy week so far in Year 4.
At the beginning of the week, we set the children a challenge relating to our themed week: Can you design and make a doorbell for dogs?
The children started off by learning about electrical circuits and how they work. We looked at the symbols used for this and were able to sketch a basic circuit. Using the correct scientific vocabulary, we were able to explain how the circuit worked. Following this, we went on to build our own circuits and successfully light up a bulb.
Then came the tricky part!
How do we create a switch for a dog to press to alert the owner that the it needs to be let out into the garden?
How would the dog press the switch?
After lots of discussion, the children decided that cardboard with aluminium foil would work.
Ask your child why we used aluminium foil.
Through resilience and lots of patience, the classroom erupted with the sound of buzzers.
Lots of fun was had and the switches worked!
Here’s a selection of pictures for you to browse through
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STEM week – Wednesday
Wednesday of STEM week has been much anticipated as it brought with it our Science carousel. We often work with different teachers during a themed week and for this one, Y6 enjoyed Science from Miss Rushbrooke, Mr Wilks and Mr Owen for the whole morning. They really enjoyed helping the person trapped in ice escape in Y2 (particularly as they were deemed old and responsible enough to work with fire) and created some complicated circuits in Y4. In Y6, we explored sinking and floating and the Science behind it.
First, we predicted and tested a number of objects to find out which would sink and float before discussing any surprises and using these to determine what made an object sink or float.
We then went on to look at the same object (an egg) behaving differently in different liquids. In water, an egg sinks but if it’s salt or sugar water, it floats. Y6 now understand that this is due to the different densities of the solutions it is floating (or sinking) in.
Our afternoon required perseverance, dedication and patience while we tackled needle and thread to create an electronic circuit using conductive thread. Some of us were successful and others need to continue the hard work tomorrow. I saw some admirable resilience throughout the afternoon (from both the children and the adults in the room) and hope to see this again when our work continues tomorrow.
STEM themed week
Year 2 have had a busy start to our STEM themed week. Can your child remember what STEM stands for?
Firstly, Mrs Garside visited us and we made our own cupbots. Using cups, pens, a battery and a motor we had to use our problem solving and thinking skills to make the cupbots draw a picture. This certainly tested our resilience but the children worked together to get some great results.
Our next visitor was Lucy, from Marks & Spencers, and we found out all about their famous melt in the middle chocolate puddings. We learnt how the pudding was designed and tested to make sure it was the perfect pudding. To make it last longer, an ingredient called an emulsifier is added and we observed the effect of this ingredient. Finally, we had chance to do some tasting!
We are all very excited about our class STEM project. All will be revealed at the end of the week, at the STEM fair, but for now here is how we have been testing the prototype.
STEM week – Tuesday
Today, we began by practising essential skills we’d need in order to complete our electronic bookmarks: sewing. We practised a number of stitches and, not only did we thoroughly enjoy it in a calm and relaxed environment, but the children were rather good too.
We’ve also been working on our problem solving with fractions by drawing bar models but I’ve no pictures of that as I was far too busy teaching! Ask us what bar models are and whether we can show you how they work.
The end of our ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ topic
To finish off our topic, we designed, made and played ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ board games.
