Stem Clubs Activities
Big Bang Fair
20th July 2010
Here at Emmanuel College, we were keen to extend our large and successful Technology department by competiting in engineering competitions, which would also showcase our talents in Electronics. Therefore we began working with a Year 9 group, who were set the task of working in groups of four to produce a product that would solve a problem they or their family had encountered. There were some fantastic ideas buzzing around the classroom and six final ideas were settled upon by the individual teams.
The year 9 class worked hard to develop their ideas, using computer software to build schematics, simulate programmes, build PCB designs and eventually produce their final PCB’s.
Whilst doing this, the pupils extended their skills extensively and were also very motivated within lessons as they had total ownership of their work. The pupils also learnt how to work well in a team, with each member of the group having individual roles to perform (and the team manager ensuring that this happened).
When the day of the competition got nearer, we added to the number of pupils we were taking to the event (which grew, and grew and grew!) until we had the grand total of 32 pupils at the competition and 14 stands to showcase our work. 24 Year 9 pupils, 2 Year 10 pupils, 3 Year 11 pupils and 3 Year 12 pupils.
On the day of the competition, the students performed extremely well and we were delighted to win a number of prizes from the Young Engineers including overall winner at age group 1, 2 and 3, along with other intermediate awards. We also were nominated for 5 National Science and Engineering enteries to the national awards in March next year in London.
The students and staff had a fantastic day at the event and have thoroughly enjoyed the process of getting ready to showcase the work of Emmanuel College at the Big Bang Fair and are looking forward to repeating the process again next year, along with hopefully winning something at the National Big Bang Fair in March.
Big Bang Advertising Lincolnshire Show
20th July 2010
“Leaders Heather Rowell
Ged Carter
This project was undertaken by all the members of 8A and mainly done during our Complimentary Studies lessons from after Easter holidays until the middle of June.
The brief for our project was to create an advertising package for the Lincolnshire Show 2010.
We produced a variety of advertising media.
The star of the package was an animated TV advert featuring a pig race (there is pig racing at the Show and it is very popular). This was directed by Daniiel Holland and proved a big hit with all ages. The set and characters were made by the team and involved a high degree of technical expertise. They then added the credits in the editing suite.
We also produced (director Kirstan Carney) a TV advert aimed at older viewers, The stars of this were (volunteered) members of staff. We then edited the advert and added credits and the jingle.
A radio advert was recorded during music lessons and included a jingle written by members of the team.
Added to the package were various posters, a CD cover and flyers.
We used a net to design a decision ‘cube’ to decided which attraction to see next.
We designed T shirts and baseball caps for both boys and girls. We printed them onto special paper and then ironed them on to the T shirts and caps. We designed rosettes and sashes with our Lincolnshire logo on. Unfortunately the transfer paper does not work on satin type material, we need to research this further to see if any suitable transfer paper is available.
Overall this was an enjoyable project, we used many different areas of the curriculum.
“
Go4SET
20th July 2010
Two teams of club members have been entered for this – one team of 6 will work on ‘Energy and Your School’ and the second will work on ‘Water and Your School’. All tweleve will be entered for the CREST Silver Award.
Update: This was successful and completed in the academic year 2008-9 and all 12 members were awarded silver CREST awards.
The history and science of skate boarding
20th July 2010
In October students are going to be given a blank skate deck onto which they will desgin their own images.
The local skate shop owner is running a workshop on construction of skateboards, the history of the skate board and maintanence and safety when skating.
The co-owner of the skateboard shop will run a graffiti art workshop in which students will use the machines in technology to create a 2d stencil to use as a graffiti design.
The students task then is to create a design for their skateboard then research on ICT the science of skating and create a presentation to the skateboard shop owner (Mr Ian Bland and Mr Jonathan Walker (past student)) and they will act as the judges alongside Mrs Tindall who will have oversight of the science.
The winning presentation which will be judged on accuracy of history of the skateboard, manufacturing of a skateboard, artisitic skills and scientific understanding will win a skateboard from DISSENT skate shop.
Cadbury's project
20th July 2010
Students are designing and making a chocolate bar which they can then collect opinions on from other students in school.
The aim is to identify and apply the mathematical skills involved in chocolate production from the initial idea to the finalised prototype.
The project was enhanced by a trip to Cadburys world where research into the maths, science, technology and engineering was done – as well as tasting free samples!
Students are currently creating the moulds and re-evaluating them and creating an improved mold. The moulds are made in air hardening clay then vac formed from HIP on the technology department’s vac mould machine.
More Rockets!
20th July 2010
As we had OFSTED at our school this week we put together a quick and simple session to do with rockets. The PESTs enjoyed doing them at the beginning of the year it seemed silly not to do something more with them. We looked at a few videos of the moon landings and had to figure out a way to get an egg to the moon without breaking. The PESTs really enjoyed it and came up with some quite unique ideas of propulsion and carriage of the egg.
Building Bridges
20th July 2010
We set the PESTs the challenge of building a bridge made out of newspaper and artstraws that would hold the most weight. They all ahd fun working in groups to design and build their bridge between two uptunred stools. They had to think about many different engineering questions and physics and maths also played a part, even though they didn’t realise it!
Boucning Balls
20th July 2010
The PESTs made their own bouncing balls using borax with a bit of food dye to make them all pretty! Some of them worked and some didn’t but it was a fun activity that gave them something to take home at the end of the session. It was a bit messy though so not for the ones who don’t like getting their hands dirty! Very simple to do just on a larger scale than in lessons.
Rocket Launch Event!!
20th July 2010
To launch another year of our successful PEST club we were joined by Pete Barrett from HART rockets. He came for two weeks and the PESTs made their own rocket that they would launch. Pete was brilliant and the students enjoyed designing and building their rockets in the first week. The second week was the launch and we had a local newspaper come and write a story about us. The rockets rose to about 150feet and it was quite exciting! Much better than a water rocket!! The students got really involved and are still talking about it at the end of the year! A very worth while event.
Pete’s website is http://www.hartrockets.co.uk/ and he is very good.
Photo puzzles
20th July 2010
Students brought in a photo they would like on a puzzle, they then design the puzzle on 2D design.
The photo they have brought is then printed to the surface of some image transfer board using the sublimation printer
the image transfer board is then cut using the laser cutter with 2D design
Bridge building
20th July 2010
A group of year 7 students have learnt about structures and in particular bridges. First they went on a visit of local bridges to research and collect images. We visited the two Severn crossings, an iron bridge in Chepstow and the suspension bridge in Clifton, Bristol. The students then began to investigate materials, making and testing concrete beams. They then tested their various beams to destruction!
The teams then designed and built their own gorges which they had to cross. We then had a visit to techniquest where they were given a talk on structures and investigated all the structures in the techniquest building.
Finally the group were to design and build their own bridges made from a list of selected materials.
Zoolab
20th July 2010
Prior to us getting the bearded dragon, we had a visit from Zoolab to give us some background knowledge on exotic animals