STEMNET Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network

I've recently completed a project with Woodchurch School on the Wirral. We had 15 pupils in the group, key stage 3, mixed gender.

We designed and built model wind turbines from plumbing equipment and simple circuit components. Plenty of experimentation and creative freedom was allowed, with constraints on design cost applied to allow the pupils to learn about budgeting and stability. Teamwork was encouraged to make design decisions for each model, and group wide discussions were held to discuss technical issues like blade design and budgets. When we finished up the project, the pupils wanted to know if I was coming back next year, which is just about the best feedback I could hope for!

The project was an interesting experience all round, with the pupils working really well together. This was the first time I've ever created lesson plans or delivered anything quite so long as 4 x 1 hour sessions, so it was a learning experience for me too!

I'm in the process of combining feedback from teachers and facilitators with the notes I made on questions I got asked, my draft lesson plans and the changes in plan from the original project brief etc... to create a complete set of teaching materials. Watch this space! I plan on uploading the teaching resources for this project to the STEMNETworking resources area as soon as they're all complete!

Thanks to Pat Ross (Scottish Power) and Alison Scott (from Core, also a STEMNET ambassador) for all their help in facilitating and planning, to the teaching staff at Woodchurch and of course to the pupils themselves for making this project possible, and for making it so rewarding for me.