Yesterday we held a Year 6 STEM enrichment day in the Senior School. We welcomed a number of external pupils who joined our current Year 6 pupils for this exciting day. STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through STEM, pupils develop key skills including problem solving and creativity.
The day consisted of the following activities based around the solar system:
SCIENCE - Exploring the moon
Pupils investigated the origins of lunar meteorites using flour, cocoa and sprinkles and identified known lunar craters using a giant inflatable Moon! Pupils also had the opportunity to hold samples of lunar meteorite – rocks that were launched from the Moon and found their way to Earth after the lunar craters were formed.
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY - Pneumatic rocket challenge
Pupils made a pneumatic rocket model after being shown the design on CAD software and how it was printed off on our 3D printer.
COMPUTING - Codebreaking secret messages
Pupils took part in an interactive story where they helped the UK Space Agency send astronauts up to the International Space Station. However, a rival nation attempted to sabotage the mission by hacking into the shuttle's communications logs and changing / encrypting the essential codes and messages. Pupils then learned how to crack simple codes with trial and error, and to decrypt messages that had been encrypted using a Caesar Cipher, Bacon Cipher, and Rail Cypher.
MATHS - The magnitude of space
Pupils learnt what units of measurements are used in astronomy for determining distances. They used astronomical units to scale planets in order to build a scale model of the universe.
Thank you to all staff who inspired pupils and sparked interest in science, technology, engineering and maths. A big shout out to the Senior Prefect Team who were true Tranby ambassadors who were assigned to each group and assisted throughout the day.
A huge thank you to the E.A. Milne Centre for Astrophysics for lending us the inflatable moon and the samples of lunar meteorites!