Current STEM Sessions
Stage 1 (Grades 1 and 2)Information comes to us from many different sources, from: our memories and senses; what other people tell us; print media including newspapers, magazines and books; electronic media like the internet, e-mails and e-books.
This term, we will examine these different sources of information and learn what they might tell us about our world. We will also realise that what we think of as information can be wrong. Opinions and even lies can be mistaken for facts. This will lead us to consider a very important question: how do we know if information we find or are given is correct or not? |
Stage 2 (Grades 3 and 4)We live in a consumer society where every day we use products to meet our needs. From week to week, we will examine closely a small selection of products. These might include pens, simple hand tools, common food stuffs.
We will look at the product (which might include its price and packaging), and ask why people might or might not buy it. How is it designed? How is it made? What is its impact on the environment? The concept of “food miles” will be introduced to the children as one factor which may be important in making a choice between various products or brands within a product category. |
Stage 3 (Grades 5 and 6)This term, the students will learn about the built environment. In particular, we want to understand how our towns and cities are more than just a large collection of homes. We want to learn how a house today has very different connections to its environment compared to the house of the 19th century.
The children will build model houses to help illustrate how, as a settlement grows, there are needs for specialized buildings and infrastructure. We will see how homes are connected to services such as fresh and waste water, electricity and gas, as well as telecommunications. There will also be an opportunity to consider sustainability issues. |