The Royal Prep School had a wonderful time during their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) Week just before the Easter holidays.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes visited The Lookout Discovery Centre in Bracknell. Investigating the woodland and water zone, where we learnt about the movement of liquid and its importance in the natural world. We then went upstairs to find out more about forces and movement. The children had great fun experimenting by making paper aeroplanes fly high into the sky, and creating a gigantic marble run. Having a go in the 'Build it zone' and learning about sound and light with some exciting experiments!
Year 2 had a workshop with a parent who is also a scientist. Mrs Hope helped the children set up an experiment - the question being which will germinate the quickest - a sunflower seed or a runner bean seed? The children wrote their answers on a piece of paper and will see who was right after the Easter holidays! Year 3 investigated bacteria. Using cotton buds they took swabs from behind their ear, arm pit and belly button. This was then rubbed onto the agar solution in petri dishes which were left to cultivate over the next few days to show what bacteria is present on the skin!
As part of STEAM Week, Year 3 to 6 children were lucky enough to receive a visit from Wing Commander Andy Green. His career as a fighter pilot in the RAF included flying Phantoms and Tornado F3 jets in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan. In 1997, Andy drove Thrust SSC (Super Sonic Car) to the world land speed record (763mph - the first land speed record to break the sound barrier)!
Andy talked to us about the world record project in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. We found about the 'supersonic bang' and how Andy drove the 10 tonne car (more like a jet plane without wings) across 14 miles of salt flats. Andy also gave the Year 6 children some expert advice on how to get the most out of their Goblin kit cars as they raced them around the school car park. The kit cars now have words of encouragement written across them by Andy Green - the World's Fastest Man!
The week ended with all the children hearing from two parents whose company creates and builds satellites. Pupils learnt about one of their satellites, Faraday Phoenix, which was launched in America in June 2021 and has a very special passenger on board 'Bob' the cat! A wonderful end to the week. Thank you to Year 5 teacher, Mr David Guest, for organising such a brilliant week.