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Building our own and unique Fairgrounds

We have been really busy in Year 6 from the beginning of the year exploring the science and engineering behind fairgrounds.

When we first presented the topic, the children asked themselves why fairgrounds are built. That made them realise that behind fairground rides there are a lot of forces and energy transformations taking place. As a result, they could see that fairgrounds are complex systems and you need to understand the science and technology that it entails.

During various investigations with lego robotics, marble ramps and loop de loops, students tried to answer the following questions:

  • Which forces come to play?
  • In terms of energy, which forms allow the rides to work?
  • Once they identified the types of energy, what transformations took place?

It was a pleasure to see them all investigating, building, and collaborating while they were having fun. A fairground topic wouldn’t be complete without the popular loop de loop and of course, Mr. Mauri. He was invited into Year 6 to deepen students’ knowledge about gears.

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As the students started gaining understanding and confidence in their skill set, they planned and started designing their own fairground rides and labelling the forces and types of energy they have learned previously.  They drew 3 fairground designs improving one after the other as they developed their STEM skills.

Beside the STEM related material, the students have really progressed when collaborating and communicating with their peers. But above all, they discovered their willingness to learn.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5I4Ymi9e9E?ecver=2]

St PETER'S SCHOOL

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