STEM Clubs

One-off activities

One-off activities are completed in one sesison. They are often highly engaging and can have a real wow factor. Consider:

• using them at recruitment and launch events,

• scattering them throughout longer projects to reinvigorate the club,

• using make-and-take activities (where participants physically take something away with them at the end)

Short projects

Any activity that takes club members two to three sessions to complete might be considered a short project. Search the project database for ideas that have worked for other clubs. With a short prject you can:

• extend a classroom activity to allow for more free investigation

• enable club members to participate in a number of related one-off activities

• allow club members to try something out before committing to a longer project

Long projects

Any activity that takes half a term or more to complete might be considered a long project. Completing a long project can be very rewarding, especially if there is an award or a prize involved. Showcase your club's efforts by:

• getting members to present their work in an assembly, at a parents’ evening, PTA or governors’ meeting.

• going to a regional or national science fair allow your club to show off what they’ve achieved.

• Search the suppliers & services database for competitions or awards that could be relevant.

Putting the M in STEM

A common cause for concern is how to engage with maths. Potential solutions include:

• Make sure a mathematician is involved in planning and carrying out a variety of club activities.

• Tease out the maths that will be present in most science, technology and engineering projects, without shoe-horning the maths into all your projects.

• Think about your STEM club as a “maths in context” club and think carefully about branding any activity as a purely maths activity.

• Search the STEM Clubs Network project database or the suppliers & services database for maths activities that successfully enhance and enrich the curriculum.

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