STEM Workshop - Year 7 & 8

On the first week back from the half term holidays, year 7 and 8 were lucky enough to be able to enjoy a science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) workshop ran by Suzy Green of the Sea Cadets.

In this workshop, students learnt all about buoyancy and got the opportunity to competitively design and build the best boat for carrying a heavy load. First, the idea of mass to volume ratios were explored by creating plasticine boats. Students were required to calculate the volume of their boats made of plasticine and then predict if it would float when placed in a box of water. Then, students heard the story of the Archimedes and the golden crown and worked out if the golden crowns given to them were 100% pure gold plasticine. Later, students continued exploring buoyancy and displacement with a challenge. In this challenge students had to design and build a boat out of one piece of A5 card, a sheet of foil and about 50 cm of masking tape. Their aim to was to create a vessel fit to carry marbles.

The groups who built the boats capable of carrying the largest mass won! After this, students were told the mysteries of money and the cost of living. They were given the facts about earning potential in engineering jobs and leaflets were given out inviting students to join the sea cadets in Salisbury. From everyone who was involved, I would like to say a big thank you to the sea cadets and Suzy Green.