STEM Spring Term Updates
National Literacy Challenge
This STEM-focused reading challenge was for students aged 9-14. The topic aims to motivate all students, including reluctant readers, by investigating space and discovering amazing facts beyond our own planet. Exploring a range of fun ideas, this challenge gave an opportunity to diversify the material students read as well as support disciplinary literacy through increased engagement with non-fiction texts.
Reading around the topic raises awareness of real-world STEM careers and functions. It was launched at Bow School following the framework of read, launch and navigate. Students were provided with books to read about Space and Journey into space. They designed their own rocket and planned a journey into space that reflects a specific role they would like to do when they arrive. This challenge helped to foster an exploratory mind set and aided to cultivate communication skills and teamwork when they worked in groups. It also helped to build confidence and enthusiasm for future scientific pursuits.
STEM Challenge 2024
The Challenge asked students to research, and propose solutions for, a hypothetical but realistic scenario in a creative and scientific manner. 2024’s Challenge was ‘a vision of a carbon neutral day in 2050’. Students were asked to imagine themselves as scientists and policy makers in 2050, responsible for ensuring that resources are managed in a sustainable and carbon neutral way.
Pupils with EAL needs who are keen to take STEM subjects as their options were provided with support from Science Academic Mentor. The Challenge was designed to target key skills in the Skills Building Partnership Framework, where they could develop the skills like team work, creativity and problem solving. and Gatsby Good Career Guidance benchmarks.
Big School Bird Watch in 2024
This very successful citizen science project is run annually by the RSPB. It was an ideal opportunity for our pupils to identify different bird species. Our students took part in Big School Bird Watch in 2024 where they had to count the birds of different species in the school field, parks and on their way home. They recorded their findings and shared with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
World Soil day
World Soil Day is held annually on 5th December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. STEM Challenge was to create a presentation to explain how fossils are formed and why are Fossils so important.
International Girls' Day 11th February 2024
The number of men in the field of science has always been significantly higher than women. In 2015, both UNESCO and UN Women called for the need to promote women and girls in science.
Creating this diversity brings with it fresh perspectives, talent and creativity. As such, this day was established in order to recognise the role both women and girls play in science. The number of men in the field of science has always been significantly higher than women. In 2015, both UNESCO and UN Women called for the need to promote women and girls in science, Students were asked to research about some women in science and present their findings about their life, work and discoveries.
BRitish Science Week Celebrations: 8th-17th March 2024
Many activities and competitions were conducted to celebrate the National Science week at school.
UK-wide poster competition: The theme for this year was ‘Time.’ Students were encouraged to think about time since the Week began, and looking to the future. The poster competition was conducted which fits in with the theme. Creativity, content and effective communications were the three main elements for this competition.
Observe Giant Butterfly growth and its life cycle Activity: Students who are working hard, showing good investigative skills were provided with Butterfly kits during this week. They were provided with eggs and had an opportunity to observe the life cycle during the 14 days’ period. Students enthusiastically shared their observations online platform with other students. Butterflies were released into the wild after two weeks.
The Baylab Lab Coat competition: This year’s theme was “Going Digital”. Students were encouraged to spend some time reflecting on how technology has developed and changed our lives, from the internet, smart devices, and advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many students were able to join in raising awareness, increasing curiosity, and opening opportunities for discussion around the digital revolution. Students designed lab coats exhibiting their skills.
All students who participated in the competitions will be awarded with certificates and the winners will be given prizes by The Head Teacher, Mr. Lye on The STEM Celebrations Evening which will be organised in May 2024.
A trip to Royal Observatory Science Museum on a Discovery Day
This trip was organised for the students who were showing good progress and interest in STEM subjects. Students had opportunity to watch The Planetarium show in the Peter Harrison Planetarium which was delivered live by Royal Observatory astronomers. Exploring Exoplanets workshop was organised for the students where they used real data from stars and its planets, made models of these other solar systems and worked in groups to determine whether any of the planets could support life, and investigate how the system differs from our own solar system.
Commonwealth Day Service
On 11th March 2024, ten KS4 & 5 students visited Westminster Abbey to attend the Commonwealth Service. Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service.
They were accompanied by TRH The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, HRH The Princess Royal, TRH The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and HRH The Duke of Kent. Marked every year since the 1970s, Commonwealth Day recognises the unity and diversity of a remarkable family of nations, with a special service organised in the Abbey with the Royal Commonwealth Society at the heart of the celebrations. In the 75th anniversary year of the Commonwealth, the theme for this years’ service was ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth’.
Guests of honour among the 2,000 strong congregation included the President of Malta, Foreign Ministers, High Commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth, faith leaders, school children and young people from throughout the UK. Our students were invited to attend the service for participating and achieving Bronze Awards in the Queen’s commonwealth Essay writing completion.
The robotics and coding workshops
This term, STEM Club students who are working on F1 Cars project are offered coding workshops to design their cars on computers. These workshops are designed to be practical, informal and fun whilst covering different aspects of engineering and technology subjects.
