Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build

The Primary STEAM Week has certainly inspired our students and parents too! Click to watch the above video.

Our STEAM curriculum is designed in collaboration with MIT, as part of the MIT-Nord Anglia STEAM Programme that is unique to BSB Shunyi and NAE schools. MIT provides excellent materials and resources for students to engage in exciting, hands-on activities that combine creativity, design, and problem-solving.

The theme for this year’s STEAM Week is "Invent, Design, and Build," and we had a week full of interactive challenges that allowed students to work collaboratively, think critically, and explore the principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM).

Parents were also invited to drop in the “Parent Learning Look” sessions and everyone was amazed and inspired to see the projects that their child has been working on.

Year 1 – Amazing maze run

Students created their own mazes using various materials to design challenging paths for hamsters to navigate. This activity encouraged problem-solving as they considered angles, elevation, and obstacles to create an engaging maze experience.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Year 2 - Design a Whacky Races Car

Students let their imaginations run wild as they designed a "Whacky Races" car capable of traveling from London to Cape Town! This challenge combined creativity with engineering principles, as students thought about speed, design, and the materials needed to create a car that can survive a long journey across multiple terrains.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Year 3 - Design an Airship

Students embarked on a journey to design a functional and imaginative airship! They used principles of engineering and aerodynamics to create a model that can float in the air. This challenge encouraged them to think about materials, structure, and design efficiency.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Year 4 - Design a Celtic Hill Fort

Taking inspiration from ancient history, students designed their own Celtic hill forts. They explored architectural concepts and historical building techniques while thinking about how to build structures that are both functional and defendable.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Year 5- Design Medieval Armour

Students dived into the world of medieval knights by designing their own suit of armour. They learnt about materials, engineering, and the history of medieval warfare while creating an innovative design for a suit of protective armour.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Year 6 - Design a Trojan Horse

Inspired by the famous story of the Trojan War, students designed their own Trojan Horse. They thought about how to blend creativity with practicality, building a model that is both clever in concept and turdy in design.

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build

Learning Outcomes

Through these engaging activities, our students have developed important STEAM skills, such as:

Creative Problem-Solving: Working through design challenges that require critical thinking and innovative solutions.
Collaboration: Learning to work in teams, share ideas, and build off one another’s creativity.
Hands-On Engineering: Gaining practical experience in design, structure, and materials.
Historical Understanding: Exploring the history and technology behind the designs they are working on, from medieval armour to ancient Celtic forts.

How do BSB students benefit from the MIT-NAE collaboration?

BSB students participate in exciting challenges several times a year, designed by leading MIT professors. Click to see MIT Challenges for this school year. https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/bsb-shunyi/news/2024/9/23/mit-challenges-2024-2025.
MIT provides excellent materials and resources for us to use in our daily curriculum to ensure our students can explore, have fun and be curious about the world around us.
We also participate in MIT Abstracts which are live webinars are presented by PhD students at MIT who are conducting cutting-edge research in their chosen field of study.
Our students and teachers also have the opportunity to attend annual MIT trips exclusive for NAE schools. Click to see

BSB Students MIT-Nord Anglia STEAM Experience

BSB Teacher at MIT Professional Development Week

Primary STEAM Week – Invent, Design and Build - Primary STEAM Week Invent Design and Build