STEAM
STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths education. At Birchfield we focus on these areas together not only because the skills and knowledge in each discipline are essential for our pupils’ success, but also because these fields are deeply intertwined in the real world and in how pupils learn most effectively. STEAM is an interdisciplinary and applied approach that is coupled with hands-on, problem-based learning that children at Birchfield will be exposed to both directly and indirectly throughout their school journey.
Each class in our school participates in a number of STEAM projects during the year through their topic based learning, in addition to this, pupils are also welcomed to take part in an enriching afterschool club which runs weekly.
STEAM
Home Learning Activities
Science
- Cloud in a Jar https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/weather-science-how-to-make-a-cloud-in-a-jar/
- Oil Spill http://scienceafterschool.blogspot.com/2012/07/oil-spill-connecting-stem-activities-to.html
- Crystal sun catcher https://babbledabbledo.com/science-kids-crystal-suncatcher-craft/
- Balance scale https://handsonaswegrow.com/balance-scale/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes
- Magnetic slime https://frugalfun4boys.com/make-magnetic-slime/
- Water cycle https://www.playdoughtoplato.com/water-cycle-bag/
- Shrinking rubbish https://teachbesideme.com/garbage-science-experiments/
Technology
- Lego maze https://researchparent.com/coding-a-lego-maze/
- Stop motion animation https://tinkerlab.com/easy-stop-motion-animation-kids/
- Rain shelter https://kidssteamlab.com/engineering-stem-preschool-activities/
- Pulley machine https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/pulley-simple-machine-project
Engineering
- Hand crank winch https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/build-a-winch-simple-machine-recycled-stem-activity/
- Jelly Bean building https://lemonlimeadventures.com/engineering-for-kids-building-with-jelly-beans/
- Create a catapult https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/28871/catapult-for-kids-to-make
- Build an aircraft https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/build-an-aircraft-engineering-challenge/
- Propeller car https://www.instructables.com/id/Propeller-Powered-Car/
- Mini robot https://www.redtedart.com/how-to-make-a-mini-robot//
Art
- Rainbow slime https://www.steamsational.com/fluffy-rainbow-slime-recpie/
- Colourful water temperature density https://www.steamsational.com/hot-and-cold-water-density-science-experiment/
- Exploding paint rockets https://www.steamsational.com/exploding-paint-bombs/
- Painting robot https://www.steamsational.com/painting-brush-bot/
Rainbow sugar density https://www.steamsational.com/sugar-rainbow-density-tower/
Mathematics
- Early Years Number Match https://busytoddler.com/2018/12/post-it-number-match/
- Pipe cleaning counting https://laughingkidslearn.com/counting-beads-on-pipe-cleaners/
- We’re Going on a Maths Hunt https://raisinglifelonglearners.com/were-going-on-a-math-hunt-2/
- Nerf Gun maths https://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2013/09/shoot-add-nerf-gun-math.html
- Tower of Hanoi https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/tower-of-hanoi