STEM workshops
Yesterday students from K-6 were involved in a STEM Workshop coordinated and run by Anna Kemp. Anna is the STEM Project Officer with the Crookwell Academy of STEM Excellence.
The Wind Turbine Challenge activity and stimulus was based around the book, 'The boy who harnessed the wind", by William Kamkwamba.
When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba’s Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.
K- 2 students wind turbine challenge was to create a paper fan that would spin in a fan breeze. They needed to use scissors, split pins and a straw.
3-6 students used electrical equipment from the Academy of Stem to create a turbine with three different-sized blades and an electrical current. The challenge was to choose which size blades could create the right amount of energy to either ring the buzzer or produce light. Students found that the bigger blades were slower and caught more wind. Some groups found that a combination of blades worked as well. Some groups also found that less blades were more effective than filling the whole round with blades.
All students worked in groups and were heard discussing pros and cons and suggestions for what might work better next time. It was a very beneficial day and we thank Anna for spending the day with us. It is our hope that we are able to invite Anna back each term this year.
