A week of Science experiments and explorations

We actively encourage students to take an interest in STEM subjects, from Junior School through to Sixth Form, and to spark their curiosity we have found it valuable to host extra-curricular activities to complement Science lessons. In light of this, we have once again held our own Science Festival this week, which has seen the girls take part in a variety of Science based exercises and activities which provide a fun way for the girls to learn about Science in an interactive way.

Year 7 students made cars powered by balloons in a Physics exercise. They also explored the mechanism of helicopter seeds found commonly on sycamore trees and tested how far the seeds landed from the initial dropping point. After carrying out the experiment multiple times, dropping it from one metre and then two, the group calculated the average distance that the seed fell. Following this, the students changed other variables, such as the wing length and the weight of the seed, which provided surprisingly different results.

Year 7 students Ritu G., Lucy G. and Alissa W. said: “Each time we changed the variables, it was remarkable to see how each flight path would be different. The week has proven to be an exciting opportunity to learn more about Science in a different format. We have enjoyed learning outside of the curriculum, through various experiments.”

Year 8 students enjoyed making bath bombs in a vibrant Chemistry experiment, whilst Year 9 attended a ‘Biology carousel’, whereby they alternated between three stations, each with a different activity. The first exercise involved the girls looking at two different environments mapped out onto tables. The environments were different, and so housed different animals and organisms as a result. The students had to discuss what it was about each environment that meant the occupiers were different. On the second station, the girls took part in mini-quizzes on a variety of Biology topics, from birds to leaves. Sat in front of the students at the final station were microscopes and some living microorganisms. The girls had to look under the microscope at two types of organisms and then had to draw out what they saw.

The Year 10 and Lower Sixth girls welcomed PhD student, Laura Bouvet, from the University of Cambridge to talk to them about her journey from GCSEs to PhD. The talk provided a great experience for the girls to learn how broad Biology studies can be, and how many career opportunities it can offer.

Thank you so much to our fantastic Science department team for hosting all of these extra opportunities to encourage students to think more broadly about all that the sciences have to offer.