LEGO LAND YACHTS
Eleanor and Floortje came in to visit with a STEM activity. In pairs we had to make a Lego Land Yacht. The yacht had to be able to move with the help of a wind fan. We measured how far each land yacht travelled. We were able to test our yachts the modify them. We found that changing the size of our sails and position of our sails improved the distance the yachts could travel. We had to collaborate with our partner to make the best model.
Pupil Voice
“I enjoyed how you got to try it then work out problems.”
“I liked working with a partner rather than by myself.”
“You had to balance the boat. If the mast was heavy you had to make the back heavy.”
“We used smaller wheels to make it go faster.”
MRS GEAR (Bobby and Fraser’s mum)
Mrs Gear came in to tell us about how lawyers use technology.
Lawyers make sure things are done safely and fairly.
We learnt that lawyers use technology to make video calls to court and prison, to email other lawyers and clients or to check laws. Technology means people don’t have to travel for court. In remote parts of Scotland court is sometimes via video call.
If you want to sell your house you need a lawyer. the lawyer needs technology to check you own the house.
Lawyers also use the internet to check laws they don’t know. They check what happened in similar court cases and fill out forms for court trials.
Then we asked her some questions.
What are the hardest cases?
The hardest cases are the ones where people really care about the outcome, like when it is involving children.
How long do you need to study to be a lawyer?
You need to study for seven years to be a lawyer.
by Sophie P6
MICROBITS
Using makecode.microbit.org pupils working through tutorials working on their coding skills.
VICTORIAN TOYS
SPINNING TOPS
Our topic is Victorians. We have been exploring Victorian toys. We made spinning tops with a circular piece of card and a cocktail stick. We had several attempts as the circular pieces of card were quite big. Smaller circles of card worked better. Using playdough to properly fix the cocktail stick helped too.
Science We talked about forces and gravity.
Technology We experimented to see who could design a top to spin the longest.
THAUMOTROPES
A thaumotrope is an optical toy consisting of two circular bits of card with different illustrations on each side. When the disc is twirled rapidly by the string attached, the separate images blend together.
Science Animation principles. Light and perception.
Technology Early animation device
Engineering Designing and constructing a working spinning mechanism
Maths Symmetry and alignment of images
PEG DOLLS
We made peg dolls using old fashioned wooden pegs. The pegs were decorated with material.
Technology Comparing Victorian toy-making methods with modern manufacturing.
LOTI-BOTS
We used the Loti-bots for the first time. We coded them to change colour, make a noise then make different shapes. We worked together in small groups. One group managed to code the Loti-bot to make a ten sided shape!
MRS BURDEN (Sophie’s mum)
Mrs Burden came in to talk about how she has used STEM in her career working on boats. She emphasized how STEM is used all the time on boats. On the bridge of the boat technology is used for navigation. The technology on boats is used for identifying the position of the boat, the depth of the boat and the position of other vessels. Throughout the boat people are using technology to test equipment, engineers are required to make sure everything is running properly. Equipment needs to be tested and fixed to ensure everyone is safe.
Mrs Burden is now the Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Shetland. Within this facility the hairdressers being trained are using STEM. They are learning about angles and mixing colours. Hospitality students are using STEM when they are measuring ingredients and adjusting temperatures.
The class enjoyed looking at the maps that Mrs Burden brought in.
