AWARD OF SCIENCE AND MATHS EXCELLENCE
There are five steps to be completed to apply for an Award of Science and Maths Excellence. A discovery log of all science work is to be kept.
STEP 1: SCIENCE
6 hands on science investigation in Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and Environmental Awareness and Care. Invite a science speaker to our school.
STEP 2: TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Develop a website. Use technology to record and analyse data collected eg graph.
STEP 3: ENGINEERING
Design and Make Activity such as Design a Bridge, Design a boat. Invite an engineer to speak to your class.
STEP 4: MATHS
Using maths skills and knowledge as part of science. Develop a maths trail around school.
STEP 5: STEM SHOWCASE
Have a science display in school (Intel Mini Scientist)
Take part in any science fair eg RDS Science Fair
STEP 1: SCIENCE
6 hands on science investigation in Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and Environmental Awareness and Care. Invite a science speaker to our school.
STEP 2: TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Develop a website. Use technology to record and analyse data collected eg graph.
STEP 3: ENGINEERING
Design and Make Activity such as Design a Bridge, Design a boat. Invite an engineer to speak to your class.
STEP 4: MATHS
Using maths skills and knowledge as part of science. Develop a maths trail around school.
STEP 5: STEM SHOWCASE
Have a science display in school (Intel Mini Scientist)
Take part in any science fair eg RDS Science Fair
Design a Boat
Working with our buddies, we designed a boat. Each pair designed and made a boat that would hold the maximum number of chick pea passengers! We explored what shapes would hold the most passengers. We found that the shape of the boat affects the weight it can hold. The more water that the boat displaces, the more it will float and the more weight it can take. To ensure it was a fair test, each pair got the same size ball of plasticine. We had to roll it out and then mould it to create a boat. Evan, Joe, Eric and their buddies Matthew, James and Joseph created a boat that held 220 chickpeas!
Design a Bridge
We investigated bridges with our little buddies. We agreed the same height for the books and width apart so that it would be a fair test. We had two piles of three books 16cm apart. Each group made a simple bridge using two piles of books and an A4 page. We tested its strength by adding coins. Then we used two pieces of paper. We investigated ways to make the bridge stronger by folding the paper in different ways. We tested which bridges were stronger by testing which could hold the most books. We made arch and corrugated bridges and tested the strength. Callum, Kristiyan, Max and Archie made the strongest bridge which almost held five large Harry Potter books!
Make a Rocket
We investigated how rockets launch. Working in groups, we did a rocket launch. First we blew up a balloon and let it go. We watched it fly around the room. Then we decided to control the path of the balloon by connecting it to a piece of string. We tied the string to two chairs. We blew up a balloon and kept it closed using a clothes peg. We attached it to the side of the string using sellotape. Then we removed the peg and the balloon flew along the string like a rocket. The air coming out the back of the balloon pushed the balloon forward like a rocket. Some groups experimented with using two balloons and raising the string.