Goodbye

Okay tonight was the end of our 3 year STEM club. I was hoping the kites I bought everyone would have been easier to fly. Remember what I say about kites - the ones you make yourselves are usually better fliers and also more satisfying to make.

I will value the support, enthusiasm and generally exploring the many areas we have covered over the years. I have always enjoyed the club and to all who have attended and helped - thankyou. You have made my last 3 years in teaching very enjoyable and at times have even helped me remember some of the reasons I became a teacher.

To all the STEMSTERS out there, keep experimenting, asking why, listening, being diligent and optimistic. You are our future. Good luck to you all - please thank your parents for all their support and encouragement - even teachers like to hear it.

Mr. Geekie
Teacher ( retired )
PS check out my ART blog.

Flying kites - even with poor wind

First of all well done everyone on making your kites. The sleds in particular suffered with the lack of wind and even the deltas struggled. However this is one of the trials of flying kits - we need some wind. Next week I will be away and so I will see you all the week after. I will make some MALAY kites and show you how to fly them.

Best wishes,
Mr Geekie

KITES and more ... KITES

Great night preparing kites for flying next week.
Year 7 students with the help of Mr.Goodwin made SLED kites and will test these next week.
Year 9 with Mr. Geekie made some DELTA kites to fly next week.

Kite making is all about symmetry and balance - hopefully we will all see some great flying next week.
Health and safety is important when flying kites, in particular no flying when skies are overcast or indeed raining as there is a possibility of static electricity causing severe injury. Mr Geekie will repeat this and other safety issues before flying.

PS If you are reading this - try to bring along a can pull ring - will be used to help attach kite to flying line.
Remember the Japanese saying " You make a kite - you have friend for life "

Sorry I missed last session

Hello everyone, to year 7 students - I will be at school next week
( Tuesday 21st June )
and the intention is to look into kites. We will make a simple SLED KITE first. This will lead onto making a great DELTA kite, the following week.
Year 9 students are welcome to help out.
( I am struggling to source wheels for our downhill cart )

Mr. Geekie

Summer term 2011

Hello everyone,
I have mentioned that, although taking early retirement, I have been asked to continue the club into the Summer term. I am delighted to be able to do so and will continue the second week back after Easter. I will be looking at one day a week so year 7 and year 9 will need to combine. The night will be Tuesdays.
Looking forward to seeing Y9 complete their trebuchet and for year 7 we will be starting a new programme.

Regards and best wishes

Mr. Geekie

HOVERCRAFT mixture of designs

Here are some students ( STEM Club ) making hovercraft.
From early development work we have improved the designs
to reflect some ingenious thinking.

ROBOT MOUSE

TWO STEM STUDENTS BEGINNING TO ASSEMBLE A ROBOT MOUSE.
CHECK BACK SOON TO SEE IF
THEY COMPLETED IT.

TANDEM HOVERCRAFT ?

HERE WE EXPERIMENTED WITH TWO SMALLER HOVERCRAFT MOULDS.
WE VACUUM FORMED THEM IN TANDEM TO PRODUCE AN
EFFICIENT HOVERCRAFT.

AN INTERESTING 3 MOROR ARRANGEMENT

GOOD EXAMPLE OF THINKING DIFFERENTLY.
SOME BALANCE PROBLEMS - BUT EASILY EVALUATED AND SOLVED - GOOD JOB.

Stemsters' building 'bots at BGS

Great fun - lots of imagination and originality.

Making FOOTBALL robots

Good little kit - provides all parts needed except battery. Can be challenging to assemble - but rewarding.
Pictures below.

Stirling motor

Making a STIRLING motor is quite tricky. One of our STEM stars is trying to put a working model together, with occasional assistance.

Making a steady hand game

Easy to make little project - can be made from a kit - basic electrical competence - can be extended easily. A good project for STEM students to lead a younger Y7 class.

Notice to interested teachers

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel you could use any of the materials on the blog. I will gladly have a word with you or you can contact me via email ( janddgeekie@gmail.com . I have some nets of simple automata which could be used with KS3 students and I will be pleased to send to you as required. These can be seen on my KS3 blog  (http://stematbgs.blogspot.co.uk.)

Starting Spring Term - year 3 tomorrow

Happy new year to everyone and welcome back.

Hope to do a lot of exciting things this term,

manipulative buzzer / light alarm toy
postcard radio,
sound collecting device
sound emitting ( loudspeaker via mini amp ) device

to name a few.
Possible trip to the DEEP in Hull - keep checking with me about this.