Last Thursday
and Friday year 6 students hosted a STEM Expo in the hall for students in years
2 to 5. The aim of the expo was to showcase to teachers and students some of
the activities that can be done in STEM.
Students were
involved in activities including coding, robotics, 3D design and printing,
digital microscopes and unplugged activities where they were learning about
computer science or the skills needed to code including writing algorithms,
following directions and computational thinking. Some students were able to
write their initials in Binary and even created binary bracelets.
Students rotated
through different activities with the assistance of the helpful and
knowledgeable year 6 students. Students had the opportunity to create talking
crocodiles using robotic equipment, design vehicles for sphero then program the
mini robot to move a tennis ball using their vehicle design or were able to
examine small creatures or a snake skin under a digital microscope. Some
students even explored space crafts using augmented reality and then built their
own spacecraft and programmed it to move.
One of the most
popular stations was the 3D printing station. Students were able to design
characters on a 3D design program and watched as their design became real life
with the help of the 3D printer. One group even designed and printed a small
version of Mrs Taplin!
With the
assistance of year 6 students from the lunch time coding group students
explored ways to create animations and games using coding. Students in the
lower grades used the app ‘Scratch Jnr’ to create simple animations using code
and students in the upper grades used the program ‘Scratch’ to program their
first game using block code. Some students were even able to make a banana talk
using a small invention kit that plugs to the computer via a USB called a
‘Makey Makey.’ Students from the coding group had also created interactive
games where students stepped on arrows on the floor to enable their sprite or
character to move and also quizzes where apples and a lemon were used as the
buzzers – yep they buzzed!
The feedback
from the Expo was fantastic. The energy and buzz around the school was positive
and everybody was excited to come and explore some of the activities. During
the day we had several special guests including our Regional STEM Champion who
quoted –
“Thank you
again for inviting me to the STEM Expo. It has been the best thing I’ve seen
since I’ve taken on this job.”
There was also
representatives from Apple at the Expo who thought the presenters did an
amazing job and who were so impressed by the year 6 students level of knowledge
and skills in STEM and coding and were excited to be able to have a go at some
of the activities alongside the students. Some of the STEM Expo activities will
be on display during Brightwater Shines on 14 June 2016.