Tonight was the first session of the year 5/6 STEM Club for the Autumn term. I was very pleased to welcome back our STEM ambassadors Freddie, Georgina and Evie who have all agreed to be ambassadors for another year. Their contributions last year included helping the younger pupils at STEM Club, promoting STEM events in assemblies, representing Brandesburton School at a cluster STEM summit, running the pop-up science shop and helping with British Science Week. Thank-you for all you did, you certainly made my job easier!
This term the STEM Club is following the Crest Award Scheme. When the pupils have completed eight activities from a wide choice, their efforts will be recognised by a certificate and badge. Tonight’s activity was making, testing and improving toothpaste. The pupils worked in small groups with a baseline ‘recipe’ and prepared their toothpaste. They then had to test its efficiency by using it with a toothbrush to try and remove permanent marker pen and also shoe polish from a tile. After that, they needed to make adjustments to their ingredients to try and improve their toothpaste. They also had the choice of adding red, blue or yellow colouring and lemon or mint flavouring. (Although they weren’t allowed to taste the toothpaste, the flavouring enhanced the smell.) They then gave both their toothpaste formulas marks out of ten for effective cleaning, smell, appearance and texture.
The pupils worked really well collaboratively and showed great communication skills. They positively demonstrated aspects of our school ‘toolkit for life’. They all enjoyed this week’s activity and the opportunity to be real scientists.
