What you need in a survival kit

Do you know what you need in your survival kit?

 For their inquiry Hannah A, Adam and Andrew have made a movie to show what you need in a survival kit. Having a survival kit is really important, you will need one after any disaster, so you better be ready!

Shania's Invention

I invented a popcorn sift because I find that when I cook popcorn in a pot, some of the seeds don't pop. I decided to invent a thing called a popcorn sift so when you pour your popcorn into a bowl you tip it into the sift first. The sift has holes at the bottom only big enough for the seeds to fall through and then you shake the container and all the seeds fall to the bowl at the bottom.

I was really proud of getting into the Dragon's Den with my invention as only six people were chosen to present to the Dragons.

I learnt to work independently and be responsible for myself and get everyting done on time. I worked on my invention at home as well as at school.

By Shania

Science Alive

On Wednesday 1 July we went to Science Alive and learnt about wedges, wheels, pulleys and levers. I was in a group of 3 with Katy and Mrs Taylor and we went on a school trip.

I like that place it was awesome. It was fun!

This is a picture of the ukulele holder I made for Mrs T.

Sinead

Let's Get Inventing

Over the past few weeks we have been working very hard on our topic, Let's Get Inventing. My client's problem was that when she cleaned her teeth, it would take forever and she wasted a lot of tooth paste, water and time. So I came up with the perfect answer.............the all-in-one tooth
brush! The tooth brush has two compartments, one for tooth paste and one for water, and when you squeeze them the substance travels up the tube and onto the brush! Simple, fast fun and easy!

Mollie.

Trip to the museum

In Term Two, Week Two, the two senior rooms went to Science Alive and the Museum as part of our inquiry into how machines make our life easier.

We went to Science Alive to learn about mechanisms and robotics. We used levers, cogs and wheels in Lego to build machines like an egg beater, a merry-go-round and a boat pulley. We had to co-operate, be resilient when it went wrong and use the equipment carefully.

The New Laptop Holder

Once upon a time at Springston School, their laptops would always lie all over the place (and that's how some of them got scratched). So Philip and Zach came up with a solution to help the laptops from getting scratched as part of our inventions inquiry. We measured, cut plastic foam and got a perfect fit for the laptops.

The school is still using our design to store our mini pod of seven machines.

By Philip and Zach.

Let's Get Inventing!

Over the last few weeks we have been working very hard on our topic, Let's get Inventing.

Our client was Liz. Her problem was when she went to the gym with a runny nose she would wipe it all over her face. So we invented a product that would make life easer. We called it the "The Super Snotless Towel". We used velcro so when you go to the gym with a runny nose you could detach the hanky from the towel.

Doesn't that sound easy? Well it is.

by Madison and Ana (Year 6)

Inquiry - The Chicken Feeder

This last term, Springston School’s inquiry was all about Let's Get Inventing! At the start of the term most of the school went to visit the Museum and Science Alive. There we were given a special card with a problem on it. Next my partner and I had to design and build a machine out of Lego to solve the problem.

Later on in the term back at school we had to start thinking about what we would do for our invention. Morgan and I decided to invent a chicken feeder and entertainer because we felt bad about leaving them in a small run all day.

Our final design is the picture above. All you need to do is fill the tray with ether grain or scraps and then the chickens will climb off the ramp and start pecking through the hole. This is a good way to keep your chickens happy for longer.

By Kachina (Year 7)

The Scooper Invention

Our invention was the scooper. I was in a team with Courtney. The reason why we invented it was because my mum had a really sore back when she bent over. It scoops up things from the ground so that you don't have to bend over. Unfortunately you have to use your feet. We made our invention out of Glad Wrap rolls. We were really good at making our invention, but we need to work on making our invention more stable. I learned to work in a team.

By Hannah L

Change Inquiry Update

Emma-Rose, Morgan and Kachina (all Year 7 students) interview students from around Springston School for their 'all new country news programme'. Go with them and find out what great things are being achieved at Springston School this year, and enjoy the unique humour they put into this news bulletin! (Also posted on Podomatic).

4:53 minutes, 5.5 MB, .mov file

Let's Get Inventing!

Hannah (Year 6) and Emily (Year 7) interview students around Springston School about the inventions they have been working on. 'Let's Get Inventing' is our theme for the term - to make something which makes life easier for others.

2:11 minutes, 2.6 MB, mpeg-4 video file

Inquiring into Change at Springston School

Emma-Rose and Morgan (both Year 7 students) are your hosts as they discuss some of the changes that have happened around our school so far this year. Classes have been inquiring into how to bring about change at school - let's see how it's been going.

Look back again soon for an update from these girls!

4:18 minutes, 14.8 MB, .mov file