KS2 Pupils Use STEM Skills To Help In A Humanitarian Crisis

Published by Leighton Park School on Thursday 1st of June 2023

Leighton Park’s annual KS2 celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths (STEAM), was a bright day this year as both the brilliant ideas of almost 300 KS2 pupils and the wonderful sunshine lit up the school field!

Seven schools brought their Year 5 pupils to Leighton Park on Thursday 25th May to discover how STEAM can help in a humanitarian crisis. The students were organised into three sessions with Katesgrove Primary first, followed by The Hill Primary, Emmer Green Primary and St Teresa’s Catholic Academy second and thirdly Caversham Prep, Waverley School and Maltman’s Green. They tackled three challenges in teams of five: how to transport essential aid on a raft, how to transport water effectively, and how to build a storm proof shelter.

STEAM Co-Ordinator and event mastermind, Mark Budge, commented, “I think this has been fantastic. STEAM is all about the cross-curricular and the three different activities really lent themselves to that. It was the problem solving and the creativity that was so great to see. I loved some of the ideas that came up.”

The ‘essential aid’ items, which included medicines, blankets, water purification tablets, and clothing, were represented by eggs which had to be moved on a raft made out of spaghetti and marshmallows. The winning structure held an impressive eight eggs! Chemistry teacher, Rachel Milhofer, who led the activity, enthused, “STEAMfest is a wonderful event; to see the joy on the children’s faces as they get to try something that they don’t get to do in other situations.” Rio (Lower Sixth) who was helping, laughed, “I’s a bit sticky but the children did really well.”

The shelter building got everyone giggling as they braved the onslaught of the fierce storm aka DT teacher, Jeff Fuller, wielding a hose! The excited pupils were shown how a tripod could be built out of three sticks and a small bungee. Their imaginations ran riot as they then combined this knowledge with their other