STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics)
At Thomastown Meadows Primary School, we are proud to offer our students the opportunity to engage in an exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program.
Once a week, beginning in their Foundation year, students learn STEM, as a specialist subject. They are introduced to a range of scientific knowledge, concepts, skills and equipment. Each year, students cover four different areas of science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth/Space Science. Within each unit, they complete a hands-on investigation related to the topic they have learned.
As an optional extra, we also have STEM Club once a week. In this time slot, students participate in challenges that are designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. Activities will vary from week to week, and could include anything from making parachutes, slime, volcanoes, rockets, flying a drone or even racing balloon rockets!
Science is everywhere in our lives so we focus on the familiar and everyday objects around us to engage the students in their learning. At our school, we are very fortunate to have some specialised scientific equipment. That said, many of the resources we use can often be found at home or are readily available in a supermarket or discount shops. Don't be surprised if your child comes home and wants to show you how to blow up a balloon without using their mouth; asks to make a cloud in a jar; explains to you what living things need to grow; or make suggestions to live more sustainably and help our planet.
In our pursuit to live and learn more sustainably, we aim to use recycled resources whenever possible. We therefore welcome and encourage our families to continually check in with us, should they have any materials or resources that they may wish to donate so that they may be reused in creative and meaningful ways. We also welcome community member who have a scientific background to come and share their experiences and knowledge with our students.
