Stem Clubs Activities
sySTEM group : Hook Project
04th November 2009
Our Aim:
Engineering is exciting, innovative and makes a real impact on our lives. The aim of the club is to allow pupils to experience the exciting world of engineering through a wide range of tasks, activities and challenges.
Who?
We have indentified the top technologists and scientists in year 8/9. These are the pupils we believe will enjoy facing a range of challenges, tasks and experiences that will further develop their understanding, interest and enjoyment of Science and Technology.
How?
We have lined up a programme that we think is exciting, challenging and thought provoking whilst being relevant to Engineering outside of school. Pupils will undertake projects, competitions, visits and will meet people in all areas of engineering.
What?
At launch pupils were given a Design and Manufacture challenge to produce a device that will increase the visibility of road users at night. This project was called the Hook project.
Project 1:
Pupils designed a PICAXE8 program to operate LEDs/buzzer when a PTM switch is pressed. Pupils manufactured the PCB and downloaded the program to the PICAXE. Pupils designed the casing using ProDesktop CAD and then manufactured a mould of their design for Vacuum Forming. THe pupils researched the most effective method of reflecting the light from LED’s and how to clip the device to the user. The pupils put together presentations of their devices, these will be made to representatives of Rolls Royce and MIRA.
What now?
The students are designing and manufacturing a vehicle for entry into the Greenpower challenge. The students have designed and manufactured vehicles for entry for the Toyota Challenge.
Wind turbine
03rd November 2009
Hoping to build wind turbine with 1m+ diameter to generate measurable electricity. Should work well with our work towards “Eco Schools”. In planning stage at the moment to decide how ambitious we can be.
Wild & Wacky Science
03rd November 2009
As part of Science and Engineering Week 2009 we put on a free Wild and Wacky Science lunchtime activity. We even got the headteacher to have her hand set on fire!
Girls club
03rd November 2009
Our Girls Technology and Engineering Club, where KS3 girls have the chance to make projects ranging from jewelry to electronics.
Forensic Science in Science Week
03rd November 2009
As part of Science Week we enrolled the help of the Forensic Science Crew. The students discovered that the ‘new caretaker’ had been hurt… students had to discovered who dunit… through finger printing, blood splatters, clothes fibres, DNA testing and photography. The students thoroughly enjoyed it.
Fragance and Cosmetics
03rd November 2009
In this project we are going to look at fragrances and toiletries… making soaps, deodorants, bath bombs and testing them. Our first session was an introduction to fragrances… we got to look at how we produce lavendar oil using distillation.
Alien Masks
02nd November 2009
Great project. We used modroc to make a mask modelled on the students face. Once set we added spooky appendages. We then added coloured LEDs and wired them up to a switch and battery pack. Finally we painted them. They look really stunning when finished.
Bike Project
02nd November 2009
As part of our Bike project working with Bike It, we have been investigating the properties of bikes.
Using the Engineering Everywhere disc that we received we investigated Bike frames, Metal strength and then finished off with some Speedway Biking.
One activity that students were interested in were Bike Helments. We weren’t able to smash helments but the next best think which were eggs. Students studies the design of helments and then put this into action with eggs in different types of padding. We then dropped them and filmed the all important impact!
Greenpower
01st November 2009
KS3 students will be building and driving an electric car over the next few weeks this will be entered in the Greenpower challenge.
So far the basic chassis has been assembled, the wheels fitted and the front and rear wishbones assembled.
After fitting the steering the team have taken the car out for its first test, you can see pictures of this.
Next week the steering will be adjusted and the drivetrain assembly will begin.
Rockets
01st November 2009
We were looking at alternative and more environmentally friendly methods of fuel.
We started with air propelled rockets looing at what difference the wing size etc made to how high the rocket would go up in the sky.
From this we then looked at paper aeroplanes and how wings and plane shape affcted the flight. we also created our own machine for propelling the aeroplanes.
We hired a company called Starchaser who came into the school and did a whole day with the targeted pupils, they looked at the history of sace and the different forms of fuels they have been testing. They then built rockets which the company had broght in and in the afternoon the whole school viewed the launching of these. Local Media get involved as well as bringing in primary schools for the afternoon event.
A Trip to Space
01st November 2009
Our first project was Space. We did many things including making several types of rocket, testing parachutes landing on the Moon, measuring out the solar system and some space food tasting!
Building a lighthouse
30th October 2009
BUILDING A LIGHTHOUSE
Working as a group you have 1 hour to design and make a lighthouse using the
materials provided. When the time is up, the lighthouse will be tested and assessed for the following:
• Design
• Cost
• Strength
Materials
1 roll of sellotape
assorted elastic bands
strip of aluminium foil
12 sheets of A4 paper
1 piece of wire, approximately 1m long
1 bulb
1 battery
2 drawing pins
1 clothes peg
Tools
1 ruler,
1 pencil,
1 screwdriver
You should spend about 45 minutes building your lighthouse.
It must:
• Be free standing
• Be a minimum of 90cm high
• Have a working light at the top
• Have an on/off switch
• Be made so that the battery is no more than 4cm from the base of the lighthouse