The STEM Challenge is an exciting hands-on competition designed to engage Year 5–8 students in problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork through a series of interactive science and engineering challenges. This event will be facilitated by our Science teaching team, who will guide, encourage, and assess students as they work through the activities.

Students will be organised into mixed-age teams, promoting peer learning and collaboration across year groups. Over the course of the afternoon, teams will rotate through a series of challenges, each requiring them to design, build, test, and refine their ideas. Planned activities include:

• Tower Building – Constructing the tallest freestanding tower possible from a limited selection of materials.

• String & Straw Hand – Exploring biomechanics by designing a functional model hand.

• Balloon Car Race – Investigating forces and motion by creating an air-powered vehicle. 

Teams will earn points at each station based on creativity, collaboration, design, and successful task completion. At the end of the day, scores will be tallied and STEM/Science prizes awarded to the top teams.

This challenge will encourage students to apply scientific principles in real-world contexts, develop resilience through trial-and-error problem-solving, and build strong communication skills. By working with science teachers in a supportive, competitive environment, students will deepen their understanding of STEM concepts while fostering a sense of curiosity and innovation that can extend into their ongoing studies.