STEM Goals 2023
- Increase opportunities for Junior School students to engage with STEM and interdisciplinary learning activities
- Connect with external partners in higher education, industry or business to enhance STEM teaching and learning, and expand involvement in in-school and inter-school competitions
Links to goals
1. Increased STEM interdisciplinary learning activities
- Interdisciplinary learning supports the use and application of what has been taught and learned in new and different ways
- Provides opportunities for deeper learning through answering big questions, exploring an issue, solving problems or completing a final project
- Terry Humphreys and Rosie Zemancheff, PDHPE teachers and STEM unit for year 5 in Term 2. Involved 3D printing a female reproductive organ
- Year 4 STEM and Languages - students were inspired by their love of learning a new language and Duolingo to create their own language tutorial program using Scratch software
- Year 5 students created art that was geometric in style and animated which was displayed in a virtual reality art gallery
Jump to:
STEM and Languages
Project mind map plan
Year 4 Scratch Language App
Students were inspired by Duolingo and their love of learning languages to design and code their own language app. Students studied Duolingo and the features that has made Duolingo such a popular app. They used this information to design and create their own language app using Scratch coding.
Student Feedback
Hello I'm Maddie from 4B, I really enjoyed this Scratch project because I got to explore a world of coding I didn't know was possible. The platform of Scratch let me explore and do more than I thought I was capable of doing. If I thought I was finished Mr Scadding would suggest an improvement. Overall, I would love to do this project again and I am starting to make more Scratch projects at home.
I loved adding the sounds to my project, and sharing it to others.
I enjoyed coding because in the end it made something to be proud of.
I enjoyed creating something that responds when you click a certain thing or button.
STEM and PDHPE - Year 5 Puberty Unit
A collaboration with Mr. Humphreys and Ms. Zemancheff.
Throughout the Year 5 Puberty unit students have been using the latest ICT resources to engage and improve their learning. From virtual reality goggles to 3D laser printing, the girls have had the opportunity to experience new ways of bringing content and concepts to life. One of their tasks was the design and 3D laser print the female reproductive organs. After learning anatomy and functions students used Tinkercad on their laptops to design a 3D model of the system. They incorporated detail and proportions to show their understanding whilst engaging in an exciting group task. Once the models were printed students used them as the basis for explaining the menstrual cycle.
The task required the groups to show their understanding of the menstrual cycle’s 4 phases and associated hygiene products. The task allowed them to create and apply their understanding from multiple lessons. They were excited and thrilled to work through the task. Students finished the task by having a night each to take it home and teach family members about the menstrual cycle. The use of this ICT resource brought a deeper understanding to their knowledge through the combination of design and creation, with content.
Mr. Humphreys, PDHPE Teacher
STEM and Art (STEAM)
The STEM and Art (STEAM) project was inspired by the art of Refik Anadol. Refik has been described as a new media artist and designer and his art is made from data-driven machine learning algorithms that create abstract, dream-like environments.
Year 5 students were challenged to design and create geometric art from algorithms using Scratch software. The driving questions for this project were 'Can computers be creative?', 'What is artificial intelligence?', and 'How can I inspire others to be creative with technology?'.
Student Products
Students created unique pieces of art over a five week period. Each student created something different and used a variety of shapes, colours, lines and textures. Some students incorporated characters from Scratch as well as sound effects and music. The image pictured here is by a student in 5G and the name of the art is shown below.
It's Chaos... And It's Awesome
Scratch Coding
Students created their art using computational thinking and Scratch coding. Students learnt to break down their project into small chunks and then to code each part individually. Students used 'repeat' blocks in Scratch to create repetitive patterns that would form part of the art. Students used the Pen extension in Scratch to draw their art. This project was an example of how people can be creative with technology and algorithms.
Student products were exhibited in an online, virtual reality art gallery
Click the button below to see the gallery for yourself.
Exploring the VR art gallery
The final part of the project involved students visiting the Assembly Hall to experience the VR art gallery using the Class VR headsets. Through this headset the students could virtually be inside the art gallery and see all of the art from across the four classes.
Student Feedback
Overall, I enjoyed coding the shape and item in this project and I found it quite amusing.
I enjoyed drawing it the most.
I enjoyed the process of making my art.
The main thing that I enjoyed was coding all the different steps to make my rainbow circle and then watching my artwork form.
Experimenting to find out how to make a fox.
Looking at the art gallery and looking at other peoples work was really enjoyable.
2. Connections formed with external partners
Jump to a partner:
Philip Mallon - CSIRO
- CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools New partnership formed in February 2023 with Philip Mallon
- Philip is a retired electrical engineer with an extensive resume
- Philip has worked for the RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) in the ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) Section
- Before that he was engineering manager for the school of Electrical Engineering at UTS
- Philip's first job was an electrical engineer with the NSW Department of Public Works and this work included procuring electronic medical equipment for all hospitals in NSW
- He was given a budget of $100M to equip the new Westmead Hospital in 1975 and commissioned all equipment including X-Ray, CT Scanner, radiotherapy etc
- In the RTA his projects included managed motorways using new technology, security (Sydney Harbor Bridge), all school zone flashing lights in NSW and technology for T-Ways (fast bus systems)
Zoom with Philip Mallon to start creating and coding the weather station (Wednesday 22 March)
On Wednesday 22nd March the year 6 STEM captains met with Philip to begin building and connecting the hardware components needed for the weather station project. This is a joint project between the STEM Captains and the Green team.
Our first temperature and humidity readings from our weather station!
Wednesday 29 March - Zoom with Philip Mallon to create and code a Thermostat and Fan Microbit project
Wednesday 17 May - Zoom with Philip to learn how to plot weather data
This image shows the code needed to compare two different temperature sensors. One sensor is built in to the Microbit, the second sensor as an external temperature sensor. This code also takes humidity data from an external humidity sensor attached to the Microbit.
Data Collected
- Microbit temperature 21 degrees C
- DHT22 sensor 19.4 degrees C
- DHT22 humidity sensor 54%
In term two we connected with an educator at IES Blas Infante school in Córdoba, Spain. This connection was made through an education network on the Twitter platform. We agreed to share our weather data collected by our micro:bit computers and compare the results. Below you can see the data collected, read data analysis and our conclusions.
Córdoba is located in southern Spain and was an important Roman city and a major Islamic center in the Middle Ages. It is best known for La Mezquita, an immense mosque dating from 784 A.D., featuring a columned prayer hall and older Byzantine mosaics (pictured).
Data from Spain - collected on 2 June, 2023
- Max temp = 29 C
- Min temp = 22 C
- Average temp = 25.5 C
- Range = 7
Ravenswood Weather Data - Thursday 8 June
The table below shows a summary of the data collected over one school day by the micro:bit. This data was shared with the school in Spain.
- Maximum Temp. = 21 C
- Minimum Temp. = 14 C
- Range = 7
- Average Temp. = 17.5
The link below will open the full data and presentation I shared with Álvaro at his school in Spain.
Kaley Butten - Skype a Scientist
- This year we registered for the Skype a Scientist program and were matched with Kaley Butten
- Kaley is a Research Scientist in Digital Therapeutics and Care at the CSIRO
- Her works involves the use of technology in health care and one of her main projects is using an app and internet dashboard to help manage diabetes in pregnancy
- First meeting with Kaley on Wednesday, 1st March. Kaley spoke about her professional context and some of the projects she works on (pregnancy app, robots in healthcare)
- We discussed a plan to have Kaley meet with the year 6 students, as their are clear links with Kaley's work and what the year 6 students will learn about in their robotics unit
- I emailed the year 6 class teachers to arrange a time where all classes can Zoom with Kaley
Skype with CSIRO scientist, Kaley Butten (Monday 20 March, 2023)
On Monday 20th March CSIRO scientist Kaley Butten zoomed with year 6 students from her office in Brisbane. Kaley introduced herself, explained what she did and spoke about a number of projects she worked on. Students had the chance to ask questions at the end of the session. Key takeaways:
- Kaley uses technology to improve healthcare
- She works with a large and diverse team of over 20 people, most of whom are women
- Curiosity and teamwork are key character strengths for scientists
- At school, Kaley was curious about frogs and their medicinal qualities
- She found National Geographic to be another source of inspiration
- Kaley is not from a science family, her parents are not scientists
Canberra Deep Space Network - Zoom with Year 5 (Tuesday 20 June)
Learning about the solar system, space missions and ethical issues
Glen Nagle from the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex gave a fascinating talk to our year 5 students all about space. We learnt about many of the active space missions and the role the Canberra facility has in supporting these missions. Many students had the opportunity to ask questions and get an answer from an expert. Questions included topics about satellites, animals in space, rocket technology and science technology on spacecraft.
We even learnt about planets that exist outside of our solar system, known as Exoplanets. NASA estimates that their are billions of exoplanets, and, according to the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, it is possible for life to exist on exoplanets if the conditions are just right.
Moonhack Coding Event with Code Club Australia and the Telstra Foundation
Moonhack
Moonhack is an annual coding event where children learn coding skills through a variety of fun, space-themed, projects.
This year at Ravenswood, all students in years 5 and 6 participated in Moonhack. Students in years 3 and 4 also participated during two lunch periods.
Overall, more than 200 students took part in 2023!
Learning new coding skills
Students in years 5 and 6 undertook the Python Moonhack challenge. For many, this was their first time coding in Python.
In the Python projects students coded a text-based 'Guess the Invention' game. This project challenged students to write a program that takes input from the user, prints text to the screen, and includes while loops.