Engineering a productive collaboration

St Mary's School held an educational outreach event on Wednesday 2 May, when 27 pupils from Year 5 were joined by their peer group from Fulbourn Primary School for a day of engineering activities run by The Royal Academy of Engineering from Cambridge University.

The focus of the day was on manufacturing, looking at the different processes involved and methods of production - various examples of these systems were given which we see in our everyday lives. The girls then formed teams to explore these concepts through hands-on activities and experiential learning within their groups. 

Given a choice of paper aeroplane designs to construct independently the girls followed a complex set of directions, then compared their productivity and consistency when creating the aeroplanes independently versus via an assembly line within their groups. Numerous timed challenges were set throughout the day and staff were continually impressed by the collaborative and positive attitudes of the girls. Each team contained pupils from both schools, and teamwork was of such strength it was hard to imagine that they only met each other that morning. 

St Mary's are very grateful to The Royal Academy of Engineering for taking the time to facilitate this experience, and to Fulbourn Primary for joining us.