Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths : Learning by Doing

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Science week 2024

Science Week 2024

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths that will take place between 8-17 March 2024!

The idea behind the programme is to raise awareness, spark enthusiasm and celebrate science, engineering, technology and maths with people of all ages and from all walks of life.

This year a particular feature is 'Smashing Stereotypes'.  To challenge the long-standing views people hold of what a scientist looks like and does, with the aim of encouraging more young people from all backgrounds, interests and career paths to see themselves as scientists.

StemForStarters has a range of coding and science projects suitable for Science Week they are aimed at young people - but anyone with an interest in science is welcome to join in! So check out the projects at Code Club and The Lab and have fun.

  • Free to download
  • Hands on
  • Easy to resource
  • Supports National Curriculum
British Science Week  is coordinated by the British Science Association

 

 

 

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digital art with scratch

Coding with Scratch: Digital Art


Age 7 to 14
Easy

Create three separate apps to automatically draw some crazy artwork. Every drawing will be a unique masterpiece!

Write the code to make the sprite move around the stage and use the pen blocks to draw lines as it moves. We’ll hide the sprite so that the drawings appear like magic.

Then experiment with the code to try out different ideas.

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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drawing squares in scratch

Coding with Scratch: Loopy Squares


Age 7 to 14
Easy

In this project you will use Scratch to draw squares. Lots of squares!

Starting with just one square and building up to complex artistic patterns.

Key coding points to look out for:

  • Write a sequence of code to draw a square
  • Use the Pen blocks to draw
  • Change the code to make it much simpler by using a Loop
  • Make small changes the code to create complex patterns

Loops are really important in coding and you will come across them in many programs.

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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scratch animation

Coding with Scratch: Animations


Age 7 to 14
Easy

In this project you will find out how to create simple animated cartoons.

Key coding points to look out for:

  • Changing the costumes of sprites to make them animated – walking, running, flying or changing direction. (Changing ‘costume’ does not always mean changing what the sprite is wearing, it can also mean a change to the position of its arms, legs or wings which lets us create animations)
  • Using Thought Bubbles just like cartoons and comics
  • Adding a background to our cartoon

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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Coding with Scratch: Telling Jokes

Coding with Scratch: Telling Jokes


Age 7 to 14
Easy

Knock Knock …..

In this simple project you will have two sprites telling a joke. You can also use this idea in lots of other ways to have all sorts of conversations between sprites – for example to tell a story or to ask questions.

Key coding points to look out for are:

  • Adding new sprites
  • Writing the code for each sprite, making sure you select the right sprite
  • Using the Green Flag block to start two scripts (programs) at the same time
  • Use the wait block to co-ordinate the two sprites
  • Change the backdrop

 

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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Coding with Scratch: Ghost catcher

Coding with Scratch: Ghost Catcher


Age 7 to 14
Easy

In this spooky game players score points by trying to click on ghosts as they appear and disappear around the grounds of the old castle.

Key coding points to look out for are

  • random numbers
  • using variables to keep the score
  • adding sounds

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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coding with scratch: dancing

Coding with Scratch: Disco Dancing


Age 7 to 14
Easy

In this project our Sprite will be showing off her dance routine with a dance-floor as the background and disco music playing.

Some of the things to look out for in this project are:

  • Using sprite costumes 
  • Adding sound to projects

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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Coding with scratch: the maths quiz

Coding with Scratch: Maths Quiz

Coding with Scratch
Age 7 to 14
Moderate

In this App you'll build an interactive quiz to help players revise their Times Tables.

Some of the things to look out for in this project are:

  • Asking questions and then using the answer given by the player
  • Using variables to store numbers.
  • Using random numbers
  • Using the Operator blocks to do maths calculations
  • Joining pieces of text together in speech bubbles

Scratch is a great way for you to learn how to code. Its fun and easy to use ... but also very powerful! It's the programming language used in most schools around the world.

It's completely free to use and runs on most computers.

 

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chromatography experiment

Chromatography

Science: Chemistry: Separating Mixtures
Age 7 to 13

Exploration rather than explanation. Have fun while learning science.

Coloured chemicals can be separated using a technique called chromatography. This is a chance to mix science and art!

This experiment uses paper chromatography to separate the different coloured dyes in felt tip inks.

Chromatography is also widely used in areas like forensics and developing new vaccines.

The free project guide has all the information you need:

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Straw Rocket

Science: Forces: Aerodynamics
Age 7 to 13

Exploration rather than explanation. Have fun while learning science.

Build and fly straw rockets. They may not go to the Moon but you’ll learn about rocket design and have fun seeing how far you can get them to fly.

The free project guide has all the information you need:

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