Island School’s inaugural STEAM Week

The inaugural STEAM Week at ESF Island School was a great success with Year 7, 8 and 9 students enjoying a range of inter-house challenges that celebrated the ingenuity and creativity of STEM and Art subjects.

The Food Technology challenges at both campuses were very popular. Sticking with the food theme, Maths hosted a Pringle Ringle Challenge. Teams of students competed to build a complete circle of Pringles where no glue was allowed. They had to use their physics and engineering skills to overcome the main obstacle – gravity.

Meanwhile, Physics investigated masses on springs as timers. Biology held the ‘Key to Success’ workshop as students derived species identification keys.  Film Studies ran a ‘Movie Maker Mashup’, while Chemistry hosted a spaghetti and marshmallow tower challenge.

DT teachers tested the robotics coding skills of Year 7 and 8 students.  Year 9 students were involved in the ‘Next Top Scientist’ challenge in their science lessons.  Also on the Tai Wai campus was an Engineering challenge, where students were tasked with using the concept of a “Maker” mindset, which involves problem solving through trial and error, to launch a spinner. The scoring process was reflected in how well their launchers worked and which group’s spinner span the longest.