Stem Clubs Activities
STEM Glove Challenge
02nd October 2010
Over the last month the S3 club have been taking part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) challenge. The Adidas Glove Challenge, set by STEMNET, was to design a revolutionary new wet glove for either of the following Olympic and Paralympic sports: rowing, canoeing or sailing. There were two groups and each group carried out a variety of experiments and researched their chosen sport. They had to work out which was the most suitable material for their glove and then come up with a 2D design.
On 14th May the S3 club members then presented their findings to two STEM Ambassadors. Both ambassadors commented on how good the presentations were and also on how much effort had been put in.
One of our teams has made it to the final at the Adidas headquarters in Stockport.
We can’t wait!!
big bang regional fair for Nobel!
01st October 2010
Nobel’s journey to the Big Bang Regional Fair was one of excitement and suspense. This was the first time that Nobel had ventured to this event and we were unsure as to what to expect or what was going to be expected of us. With our new science club up and running we were showcasing our water rocket and straw dart designs that year 7’s had been trying and testing for the previous 10 weeks.
Once we had arrived, we were greeted by a phenomenal display of aircraft in the hanger, in which the school displays were intertwined. The competition was strong, the groups that surrounded our display were impressive and inspirational, and this added to the sense of achievement to the pupils felt towards their own projects. Initially Joseph and Simon felt a little apprehensive about being judged, however, they confidently and successfully spoke to all 3 judges that questioned them regarding their achievements and this had a clear impact on their self belief and competitive natures.
However, the competition was not the only highlight of the event, we were fortunate enough to attend a workshop, in which the students made sun dials, attended Miss Hawkins presentation and watched enthralled as the Naked Scientists created more foam that we thought was possible!
The combination of the vast activities available, the presentations and the quality of the work showcased at this event gave all of us the inspiration and motivation to want to come back next year with the aim to win one of the many prizes that were available.
The whole year Programme
01st October 2010
This is the programme of activities that we are currently running this year in STEM club. Stem club has an intake of 20 year 7’s, 20 year 8’s and 20 year 9’s.
G&T Jewellery club
01st October 2010
This project was designed for several reasons
1) To entice more girls into Design & Technology, to show that intricate objects can be designed and made using wood, metal and plastic.
2) To push the boys in the group to develop and fine tune their practical skills, when working with detailed, delicate and intricate objects.
3) To give all pupils in the group access to extra facilities and techniques, this can be incorporated into their up and coming projects in the school and also to encourage peer teaching to their friends in lessons during the school day.
4) To stretch the more capable pupils to fulfil their potential and explore other areas of Technology that they wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to look at.
The jewellery club was split into 3 parts, working in each of the 3 materials. The first technique concentrated on working with timber to create geo jewellery. The pupils laminated coloured veneers inside the pine pieces to create interesting colours and patterns in their wooden pendants.
The second part of the club taught the pupils how to use 2d design. Using CAD and CAM the pupils designed different pieces of jewellery and programmed their drawings to allow laser cutter to cut and engrave into acrylic their chosen design.
The last part of the project allowed the pupils to design pieces of jewellery using dye sublimation on sheet Aluminium. The pupils printed suitable images and used the heat press to embed the images onto the metal. The pupils then shaped and joined the pieces together to fabricate beautiful pieces of unique jewellery.
Rocket Science
30th September 2010
They will learn about the different types of propulsion through a series of experiments. They will also construct different types of rockets and fuselages to understand some of the constraints involved with aerodynamics.
KS3 Maths Puzzle Day
29th September 2010
The Gifted and Talented Department ran a Puzzle day for our Year7 and Year 9 students aimed at improving their thinking skills and teamwork. Each session lasted for 2 lessons, involving up to 60 students at a time. The sessions were very interactive and the feedback from students was very positive.
KS Maths Challenge
28th September 2010
With funding from our G&T department our Maths team attended the final of the annual UKMT Maths Team Challenge where the teams gain points for answering a range of maths problems. Our team won the regional event at Liverpool University, competing against all the top schools in the north west, going on to the finals in London to compete against the top school in the country. Our team came 37th out of 70 teams in the final with over 700 schools competing in the regionals.
Straw towers
27th September 2010
Engineers often have to design and build structures to perform a particular function while being under restricitions regarding the materials they can use. This could be because of cost, environmental restrictions etc. This task was to try and replicate something of that.
Each pair was given 24 art straws and 1.5m of sellotape. The goal was to build a tower or structure that would support a 1kg mass. Each group got 1 point for each cm above the base that the mass was supported.
Solar Boat Challenge
24th September 2010
The aim is to produce a boat powered by solar cells. Pupils produce the hull of the boat using recycled material or by producing a new vacuum formed hull.
Pupils can use up to 3 solar cells to transpher enery to capacitors which power the motor.
This projct looks at basic electronics and renewable energy sorces.
In 2009 a group of year 7 STEM Club pupils took part in a comptetion held against other Yorkshire Schools at Elvington Air Museum near York. This was part of Enginering Inspriations event held every year. We where unlucky and did not place in any of the class competitions and in one case one of our boats sank.
In 2010 we want back with year 7 STEM Club pupils and won two of the three classes.
Mini Robot Wars
24th September 2010
Pupils in pairs produce a robot to push another robot out of the arena. Unlike the TV program where the robots aimed to destroy their oponets.
This was open to year 7 and 8 pupils and the club ran after school for 4 weeks with the aim to send 4 teams to a competion with other schools.
The robots worked via a cable which in turn is attatched a switch and a gear box. The robot has 2 gear boxs which control the wheels. The gear boxs control the rear wheels and in most cases the only wheel on the robot.
Areas for study, basic electronics plus soldering, designing and manufacturing skills, gear ratios.
In 2009 and 2010 All Saints pupils won the over all battle held at Elvington Air Museum near york.
Air-pump rockets
23rd September 2010
Our introductory activity for the new intake of Year 9 students was to design and build paper-tube rockets from the MUTR kits (www.mutr.co.uk). It wasn’t possible to stop our existing members (Year 10 and 11) from joining in enthusiastically!
Each group had to design and construct two unique rockets from limited resources (one spill, sellotape, prittstick, a prefab nose cone and used A4). They then launched them at any angle they chose, and their score was the average of the distance achieved with each rocket.
Lights. camera, action!!
21st September 2010
This projects kicks off with a trip to the National Media Museum in Bradford to look at the development of cameras and film and take a trip into space!
