To celebrate the lead up to World Science Day being celebrated on the 10th of November we will be sharing insights into activities our students are provided with by way of our STEAM projects and world-leading collaborations with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UNICEF throughout the week.
To start the week of learning off we recently caught up with STEAM Coordinator, Mr. Barnett to find out what undertaking's students have carried out to date in Term 1 of the Academic Year.
On 2nd and 3rd October, Compass engaged a new STEAM theme for the year – ‘Life’. Challenge #1 focused on ‘Cellfie Life’ – i.e. how cells are the building blocks of life.
We decided upon three simple learning outcomes for the challenge:
Be able to state what a cell is
Be able to name parts of a cell
Be able to understand that cells are living things.
Initially, most year groups responded to the Curiosity Correspondent’s intro video by formulating a question to ‘Ask the Expert’. Some classes decided to do this through either the Seesaw or Padlet platforms, whilst others asked directly to Dr. Yamashita through Global Campus.
Our main activity was for the children from all year groups to observe the cells of onion skin through microscopes borrowed by our colleagues in secondary school, which we called the ‘pop-up lab’. Their task was to safely observe the onion skin at different levels of magnitude using the objective lens. The task was differentiated for Years 5 and 6 who also used stands of their hair for the same task, preparing the observation using coverslips and iodine. The children would then record their observations both in writing and through drawing.
Across the Year groups, children also created cell models using a variety of materials, including our Year 1 classes who used jelly and gummies! Others – including 4MA, - used more traditional materials, such as beads, cardboard, glue, tissue paper and tape.
Many classes also tried out the pre-designated challenge. One class – 5MB - used paper, string and an elastic band to come up with a variety of different items such as wristbands, wallets and cutlery! Another – 4MB - used a piece of green paper, a coloured matchstick, a split pin and a pipe cleaner to come up with creations such as language cards, a light cable, sketchpad and a ‘smile bag!’
To improve knowledge and understanding some year groups used Seesaw and Nearpod activities, whilst others relied on resources already in place for IPC units or passed down by Secondary colleagues. By the end of the two days, most children were able to meet the learning outcomes and communicate what they learnt.
The theme for this year - 'Life' - now moves onto Term 2 where children will explore the notion of 'Alien Life' as they explore organisms in the depths of the oceans and the potential for organisms to exist in outer space.
Well done to all the children for their enthusiasm across the two days and thank you to colleagues in primary and secondary for making 'Cellfie Life' a memorable experience for the students! 🧬
Kind regards,
Mr. Barnett
