Planes, Flames, and Bananas: An Immersive STEM Day
On Tuesday 24th June 2025, 54 Year 10 students took part in an exciting and immersive STEM Day through a series of practical, hands-on workshops.
The day began with a high-energy icebreaker: the Paper Plane Challenge. Armed with just a single sheet of A4 paper, each group set about designing and testing their own aerodynamic creation. The hall buzzed with activity as planes soared—some impressively, others less so—in a friendly competition to see whose design could fly the furthest.
Pupils were then divided into four groups and took part in a carousel of themed STEM activities. In Physics, students investigated how to optimise wind power by experimenting with model turbines and varying design parameters to maximise voltage output. This session not only reinforced their understanding of renewable energy but also gave them experience in practical data collection and analysis.
The Maths workshop challenged students to model the spread of forest fires using probability and logical reasoning. By simulating how a fire might spread across a grid, pupils saw first-hand how mathematics can be applied to tackle real-world environmental issues.
In Biology, the focus shifted to medical science as students practised suturing techniques using bananas. This unusual but effective model gave pupils hands-on experience with basic surgical skills.
In the Computing session, pupils became digital creators as they worked collaboratively to produce their own stop-motion animations. Using tablets and creative props, they storyboarded, filmed, and edited short sequences—developing both their technical skills and artistic storytelling abilities.
To round off the day, students gathered in the ABT Theatre, where each group presented one of the activities they had taken part in. These pupil-led presentations were confident, reflective, and often entertaining.
