Beachborough Prep prides itself in offering added value and enrichment to our curriculum and on Tuesday this week, our Form V pupils were off timetable and fully immersed into a new addition to the Beachborough Enrichment Calendar, with a newly designed, STEAM Day.
The theme was ‘Biomimicry’ and, for those who are new to this phenomenon, this means ‘the practice of imitating natures processes, to solve human problems.’
Throughout the day, the pupils were split into four smaller focus groups and moved around the school to get stuck into a carousel of activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics all based on this explorative subject.
Our Computing and Robotics suite became a hive of activity as pupils investigated how innovations in nature have inspired human designs. Looking at natural elements, from plants to animals, the children crafted clay models to represent biological inspirations that have influenced inventions and technology in the modern-day world. The pupils’ wonderful creations were then brought to life using stop-frame animation provided by Animation Nation, showing the transformation from nature, to human invention.
For the next challenge, our Form V scientists explored the properties of seaweed extract, Sodium Alginate. It is this element that gives seaweed its strength and flexibility. The pupils used a syringe to slowly add the Sodium Alginate into a calcium chloride solution to create their own alginate beads! The strength of the beads was tested during a hands-on practical which explores how the strength of the beads was affected by the time the beads were left to form.
Head of Science, Mrs Caddick said,
“Through brilliant demonstrations of teamwork and perseverance, this STEAM Day helped our young scientists develop their investigative and equipment-handling skills, create data tables and collect results, draw conclusions and to learn how to evaluate their experiments. A brilliantly, productive day was had by all!”
Our state-of-the-art Technology, Engineering and Design (TED) Suite became a workshop of pupils all eager to use the plethora of equipment and create their own tote bag, inspired by nature’s designs. Through looking at different cell structures within nature, the children were tasked to design a pattern which was then cut, using the electric saws, before gluing them to a printing block. The children then used printing ink and rollers on the block to create a recurring pattern on their bag which they all got to take home with them.
Finally, in the art studios, the children explored the world of Leonardo da Vinci and his early works, based upon his interest in the flight of birds. On this theme, the children made an array of beautifully designed parachutes, which were then dropped from the top of the Manor House staircase to both assess their design and their suitability, much to the delight of the children who took great pleasure out of the competitiveness of this task!
Overall, the Form V pupils had a very enjoyable full day of hand-on learning on a topic that was chosen to inspire and spark curiosity among them, imploring the children to want to learn more on this subject and thus adding value to their own personalised learning journey.
Head of Computing and Robotics, Mrs Blithe said “At Beachborough Prep we are always seeking innovative ways to enrich our curriculum. The introduction of the Form V STEAM Day to the school calendar, reflects our commitment to fostering interdisciplinary learning that blends creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving. Biomimicry was chosen as this year’s theme because it perfectly encapsulates the synergy between nature and technology- two areas where Beachborough Prep excels. By exploring how nature inspires technological solutions, our pupils are not only learning to think like Scientists and Engineers but are also developing a deeper appreciation for the world around them, embodying our ethos of combining academic excellence with environmental stewardship.
For more information on Beachborough Prep and to see our STEAM subjects in action, please contact our Admissions Team to book your individual tour.
