Surprising STEM

Experiments and electricity

By Mercedes College Email this article

Plus an opportunity to win big in Maths!

Investigating Humpty Dumpty
Our youngest students are not excluded from the curiosities of science and engineering, recently investigating the movement of 3D shapes to determine why Humpty Dumpty fell off that wall.

Using ramps and hypothesising about which shapes would roll, slide or stack, or how size and shape affect movement, our Reception students tested their theories and recorded their results with checklists, photographs, diagrams, and videos. They then applied engineering skills to design and create a stable structure to prevent a round object from falling off a flat surface.

This series of inquiries and activities challenged our students to think critically, ask questions, and work collaboratively and creatively.

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Let there be light!
As part of their science studies, our Year 6 classes were visited by Science for Real, whose facilitators guided them through the Science behind electrical circuits and conductivity. Students eagerly embarked on a hands-on journey building their own circuits with wires, bulbs, batteries and motors, gaining insight into what type of circuit was best suited to specific purposes, and the improvements in circuitry that makes our electricity more efficient today.

Highlights of the day included exploration of multi-coloured diodes, as well as learning about the effects of static electricity, and discovering what direct or reflective light would power their solar panelled motors.

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Maths competition coming to Mercedes College
In early August we will host the Australian Mathematics Trust's annual Australian Mathematics Competition, the nation's longest running, largest and most well-known maths competition for school students. Significant prizes are awarded to the top-performing students, as well as certificates of achievement for other high performers.

If your child is a Year 3 to Year 12 student and would like to participate in this competition, contact Pamela Alexopoulos via SEQTA Direqt Message for further information.

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Digital, Science and Mathematics Teams
Mercedes College