Stem Clubs Activities
Toy Factory
03rd February 2012
Primary School Toy Factory
A local primary school had the opportunity to work with the Design and Technology department’s year 10 Resistant Materials group making mechanical toys.
The day started with students exploring what mechanisms are and applying this knowledge to their designs. They then had a tour of the ‘factory’ where they were introduced to the production line and the ‘workers’ (year 10 RM students). Each year 10 student had a specific role on the production line from marking / cutting wood for the framework to shaping / drilling components for the mechanism / decorations.
As this was just before christmas the year 10 students decorated the room and dressed themselves as elves, which made the whole day even more exciting!
Once they had a good understanding of the components that could be used the primary students then had to adapt their ideas to fit the production line pieces.
Small groups of primary students were then given a year 10 mentor who had the responsibility of helping them complete their designs and make their toys.
the day finished with the toys being decorated and tested to ensure they were robust enough to be taken home.
We are glad to report a 100% success rate!
Lava Lamps
02nd February 2012
The STEM Clubbers created their own lava lamps using oil, water, food colouring and Alka Seltzer!
Kissing Balloons!
02nd February 2012
The STEM clubbers used static electricity to make their balloons kiss!
Greenpower F24 Car
01st February 2012
We started building our car in January 2008. This has progressed to a rolling chassis with some systems in place by summer 2008. Time was running out to compete this year so a second, obsolete, car was borrowed and brought up to pass the scrutinising standards of 2008.
We entered our first race a Bedford Autodrome in September.
A thrilling race left us placed 18th and very tired, but extremely satisfied. That was both staff and students!
Are we going to do it all again? You bet!!
This time with more cars, more students, better materials and loads more fun!!
The year 11 students are already making plans for F24+ when they reach sixth form.
This project requires a high level of commitment from both staff and students. The rewards are worth it though.
The learning oportunities are endless. We now have a group of students who were of average practical ability a year ago. Who can turn, produce CAD drawings and CAM products, use a wide range of hand and machine tools to a far higher skill level than could have been achieved in the classroom.
They are also enthused about the research, design and manufacturing process.
They have also bonded in a way that was unexpected.
'Forging' the Mona Lisa
01st February 2012
Pupils researched ancient pigments and chemical anaylsis techniques and then put what they had learnt into action in order to produce a copy of the Mona Lisa that would pass as many chemical analysis techniques as possible.
A bit of a Lemon
01st February 2012
It’s the classic making electricity from citrus fruit. Students experimented making batteries using various citrus fruit, copper pipe and zinc (recovered from old zinc carbon cells)
The idea was to produce as much electricity as possible. It was found that there was a limit to the number of ‘cells’ that could be connected together… but let’s not spoil the story.
Transport for London Visit
01st February 2012
Young Engineers to the Rescue!
Thanks to the quick actions of a Samuel Whitbread student, a disastrous accident was avoided at West Ashfield tube station today.
Station supervisor Max Forwood said “If it wasn’t for the speedy reactions of Joe in informing the control room and cutting off the high voltage electrical power, the incident could have been far more serious.”
The incident occurred during a school trip to London. Mr Rayner, a teacher at the college and keen train spotter, got too close to the platform edge and fell onto the track.
Thankfully, this was all a drill. West Ashfield station is on the third floor of an office block, and is a life-size training facility, not a real station. The ‘accident’ was all part of a visit by the SWCC Young Engineers club to the Transport for London training facility.
Many thanks to Tfl for a fantastic day – a truly vocational learning experience.
Crazy Golf design day
31st January 2012
A group of year 7 students along with students from Branston Community College and Boston Grammar School spent the day at the National Centre of Craft and Design exploring modelling techniques to build a crazy golf course.
The 3 schools formed 9 mixed groups and each designed and built a hole for the final crazy golf course. During the morning they explored the exhibition on display in the NCCD and used inspiration gained to help their design thinking.
Students then explored various modelling techniques to make their own course.
In the afternoon they evaluated the course by playing 9 holes of crazy golf!
Snowflakes!
19th January 2012
As there was no snow outside this year, the STEM clubbers made their own snowflakes for Christmas!
Making Sparklers
19th January 2012
In preparation for fireworks night the STEM clubbers made their own indoor sparklers!
Stress Balls!
19th January 2012
The STEM clubbers thoroughly enjoyed playing with cornflour and balloons to make their very own stress balls!
Fire Writing
19th January 2012
Students used an unconventional technique to improve literacy skills…. Using fire!
