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This week, Wellington College’s Student Alliance hosted an amazing STEM Day! 84 students and their teachers from partner schools participated in engineering challenges, including creating a cardboard marble run that kept a glass ball moving for almost 20 seconds! They also built a straw structure that could hold weight, conducted a catalase experiment, measured acidity, and deciphered ancient cyphers. Our young scientists had a blast exploring chemistry, biology, DET and maths.
There was also a session run by Taylor Wimpey West London, who talked about what housebuilders take into account when buying a development, roles within the construction industry, and set the students a challenge to build a weight-bearing tower out of straws and tape.
The DET lesson gave the students 40 minutes to make a marble run out of card, straws, tape and glue. Working in pairs, the aim was to keep the marble moving for as long as possible, with Lewis and Douglas from Ranelagh School in Bracknell taking the prize with a marble that ran for 19.87 seconds.
Student Sophie said: “I liked trying the equipment. We used a gas measurer, which I had not done before.”
Jay added: “I liked mixing dangerous chemicals together.“
Deanna Taylor, a teacher at Emmbrook School, Wokingham, said: “It was eye opening in terms of the resources and the students have been fully engaged all day. It has been outstanding.”
Teacher Laura Tudor, from Sandhurst School, said: “They have enjoyed being in small groups with room and time to think and get hands-on and do practical things all day.”
The schools involved included Kings Academy, Gordons, Ranelagh and The Forest.
To learn more about the Wellington College Learning Alliance visit their website HERE.
