Schools back this week and I have been hatching a plan to engage my new cohort of Grade 5 and 6 students during the first few days of the year. I want something different to the usual scenario of Getting To Know You activities. What I really want is a way to start with STEM…
Read MoreMuch of our learning for STEM so far has required us to interact with others in a cooperative and focussed manner. The best outcome is simply not achievable when working alone. This goes for both the teaching team and the students. Collaboration has been the key to our light bulb moments and our deeper understandings…
Read MoreWith first versions of cars built and quite some excitement while racing them over and over and over again the students are now going through the process of where to next and even better if…… They seem ready to delve deeper into some of the science, technology, engineering and maths elements that are associated with…
Read MoreAlready with lots of time already spent designing, measuring, drawing and making lists of required materials the students were ready to start their first prototype today. With amazing speed, enthusiasm and a high level of concentration each student got underway and gathered up the resources required. Very quickly we found four teachers and one support…
Read MoreI’ve never seen the students sit for so long and be fully engaged in the moment. Time after time predictions were made, explanations provided for their thinking and races held. Again and again the 3….2….1….go countdown rung out through our learning space as cars were tested, curious questions discussed and then different scenarios tested again.
Read MoreLaunch in two days! The Nerdy Derby introduction was met with a loud cheer from the 90 Grade Fours we learn (and teach) with. This week we finalised ideas on what we think innovation is and started our journey to First Launch Date.
Read MoreThe pace changed a little today. The tower building teams spent some time unpacking what they think innovation and moonshot thinking is. Their goal was to design a poster for the maker space with their ideas. Now I don’t know about you but often when a class is asked to design posters there can be…
Read MoreBuilding Towers This was an exercise in strength of a team and strength of a tower! Today we challenged our Grade 4s to work in teams to build a tower to hold up a tennis ball for at least 20 seconds. Their materials were a mix of play doh, sticky notes, straws, a wooden peg,…
Read MoreFollowing on the success of our first session enthusiasm we put out the Makey Makey equipment. After a short intro detailing the equipment available to them and the goal of using the makey makey to power a game of Mario, the Grade Four children were set loose! For the first 15-20 minutes there was a…
Read MoreAnd so it begins. My first foray as a classroom teacher into STEM. Today we began playful exploration. The students have time just to explore the resources we have available in the Makerspace..
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