Topic outline

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  • The WASP STEM packages have been designed so that teachers from different STEM areas can pick and choose sections relevant to their subject area to work on.  All activities in these packages do not need to be completed to get value for them – each activity can be completed as a stand-alone or can be approached, as a team, as a larger project. The packages have potential to be extended into much longer projects to include curriculum points from different STEM subjects.

    There are three student workbooks - Open, Guided and Scaffolded, that go alongside each resource; all have the same suggestions for activities, however, they have been written and edited to provide differentiated learning options to support good teaching practice.  Teachers may pick and choose which versions they give which students, and may wish to edit them further to address their learning needs.

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  • The Student Challenge

    A school has decided to build a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facility and has asked students for design ideas. They hope the building will be environmentally friendly and cost effective.

  • Possible Activities
    

    Background Research
    Investigating Insulation
    Testing the Thermal Mass
    Investigating Colour
    Open Plan Investigation
    Investigating the Effectiveness of Eaves
    Critique of a Building
    Design a Passive Building

  • Designing a Passive Building - Teacher Resource File
  • Designing a Passive Building - Scaffolded File
  • Designing a Passive Building - Guided File
  • Designing a Passive Building - Open File
  • Do you have students completing this STEM challenge from home or another location? Click here to download an interactive pdf version which can be completed just about anywhere.

  • To find out more about how colour may be considered in the building process click here. 

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  • The Student Challenge

    The Science technician has been clearing out the storeroom and has come across an old orrery that shows the planets of the Solar System and Earth’s moon. The planets spin around the Sun at different rates, and are different sizes, however, this model is not very accurate. You have been asked to investigate how to make this more accurate so you can build your own orrery.

  • Possible Activities

    Background Research
    Mathematical Modelling
    Timing Turns
    Designing an Orrery

  • Making an Orrery - Teacher Resource File
  • Making an Orrery - Scaffolded File
  • Making an Orrery - Guided File
  • Making an Orrery - Open File
  • Do you have students completing this STEM challenge from home or another location? Click here to download an interactive pdf version which can be completed just about anywhere.

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  • The Student Challenge

    The school uses thousands of litres of water a year for flushing toilets, washing hands, watering the lawn etc. This is not very sustainable or environmentally friendly. The school has asked the students to think of ways to use water more sustainably and hopefully save money as well as water. Your job is to research water saving methods and come up with some recommendations. It is important that these recommendations are backed up with calculations and data.

  • Possible Activities

    Background Research
    Washing Away the Water
    Grey Watering the Garden
    Finding Your Daily Average Use of Water
    Planning for Rain
    Calculating the Cost

  • Recycling Water - Teacher Resource File
  • Recycling Water - Scaffolded File
  • Recycling Water - Guided File
  • Recycling Water - Open File
  • Do you have students completing this STEM challenge from home or another location? Click here to download an interactive pdf version which can be completed just about anywhere.

  • STEM Energy Mix File

    *document pending additional materials