January STEM
January was a busy and exciting month for STEM activities at St Simon Stock School with 29 year 7 and 8 girls visiting Dungeness Power station and all of Tear 7 attending an interactive talk on “Cool Physics”.
Pretty Curious comprised a one day event to encourage girls to consider pursuing a career in STEM subjects. 29 year 7 and 8 girls spent a day at Dungeness Power Station. We learnt about the history of the power station, how it works and how much training is involved for the staff who monitor the nuclear reactors. We also had a team challenge to build electrical pylons using paper and string. We had to read the instructions carefully to make sure that we followed the design brief.
A few comments from the students include
I learnt that a nuclear reactor makes no sound, produces no smell and no pollution! I also learnt that the turbines are rotated with super-heated steam.
I think girls in the future should go because it’s really interesting and you get to see something that you might never get to see again.
I enjoyed the trip very much and learnt 2 main things: that nuclear power (in the power station) is made by two main generators, which are totally silent.
Thank you to Mr.Platt, Miss Crossing and Mrs. Gray for joining us on the visit.
A few days later all of Year 7 attended a one hour talk called “Cool Physics” where we learnt about the different ways that particles move in solids, liquids and gases. We also saw what happens to materials such as rubber and a banana when they are frozen in liquid nitrogen. We saw how the gas in balloons freezes when it comes into contact with liquid nitrogen which makes the balloons shrink.
Some comments from year 7 students included:
I enjoyed watching the talk- especially the time when she used the kettle to make real clouds.
My favourite part of this experiment was when she had the balloons and she put about 8 in a small box and they deflated. Then she took them out and they were inflated again.
I have learnt how many amazing things you can do with liquid nitrogen. I learnt that it is -197OC and can do lots of damage because it is so cold.
Thank you to Cordi Scott from the University of Kent for coming to give such a brilliant presentation.
Ms Whitehead
