STEM with Mr Luke McMurray
Year 4/5
Throughout Term Three, students in Year Four and Five will be engaging in an exploration of electrical circuits using ‘Little Bits.’ These hands-on resources are designed to deepen their understanding of how circuits function, powering the everyday devices they encounter both at home and in school. By experimenting with ‘Little Bits,’ students will not only grasp the fundamentals of electrical engineering but also develop practical skills in problem-solving and innovation.
In addition to exploring circuits, students will delve into the world of game design and coding using ‘Makey Makey.’ This hands-on experience will empower them to create and test their own video games, applying principles of programming and interactive design in a practical and engaging manner.
In Term Three, Year Six students will be focusing on hands-on exploration with 'Little Bits,' to delve into the fundamentals of electrical circuits. This marks their first experience with 'Little Bits,' giving them the opportunity to understand how circuits power various devices encountered in daily life.
Building on their previous experience in Year Five, students will also dive deeper into coding and game design using 'Makey Makey' and 'Makecode Arcade.' This term, they will expand their skills acquired from previous sessions with these tools, advancing their proficiency in coding and exploring innovative ways to create and control interactive games using the Makey Makey interface.
During Term Two, students will be learning about coding in STEM. We will be using robotics kits called “Sphero” to practice coding by collaborating with each other, completing challenges and practicing our ICT skills. We will be using mathematical thinking by programming the Spheros to travel over certain distances, times and angles. Students will complete the term by creating their own STEM based challenge for other students to try, using the Sphero bots as their main tool. This could include coding a maze, a racetrack or various other possibilities.
Throughout Term One, students in Year Four and Five will be learning about cyber safety. They will complete games and activities which will provide them with the vital skills required for navigating the digital world. A wide variety of topics will be covered, such as safe social media use, analysing the validity of information online, identifying hoaxes and thinking empathetically online. Students will be presented with the opportunity to access these lessons through the use of online games and resources from the “Digital Licence Plus” program, developed by the eSafety Commissioner.
Mr. McMurray
Throughout Term One, students in Year Six will be taking part in the “Digital Licence Plus” program. This program is aimed toward upper primary students, seeking to provide them with the vital skills required for navigating the digital world. A wide variety of topics will be covered, such as balancing technology use, taking part in a positive online culture, mitigating cyber risks and thinking empathetically online. At the conclusion of the program, students will be presented with their “Digital Licence,” signifying that they have displayed an understanding of the above concepts and are ready to be responsible cyber citizens.