Perfect timing surely - Great Britain F1 world champions - again! Well Done Button! Well Done Brawn!

Last week, Mrs Slyfield and Jo went through a powerpoint and video illustrating the Bloodhound project - well done for your part here Jo.

You'll want to see the pictures of the 2 prototypes currently under assembly.

I think this will be a fantastic project.

See the pics for yourselves.

There will not be a STEMNET session this Thursday as the STEMNET teachers are at The University of Reading to take part in a national STEMNET strategy. We will update you on what we find next week.

 Many of you were not at the team building exercise last Thursday. This may be simply due to the fact that you hadn't picked up your email.

That being said, can you reply to this BLOG, stating your full name and whether you want to continue your membership to STEMNET. We hope that we can remain as a team, but you'll understand that there are many pupils who are keen to get involved with our activities and so we need a clear commitment.

 CAN YOU PLEASE REPLY TO THIS BLOG, STATING YOUR FULL NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU INTEND TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO STEMNET.

Thanks

Please bring with you the following:

Your PE Kit (including trainers)

We are hoping to carry out some 'team building' exercises. There may be some new members to the group.

See you all after school tomorrow

Following last year's success, EmmTech is back - Bigger and Better than before...

Listen up - I've got boxes of Rocket Car that needs sorting and we're now subscribed to an amazing company who will provide us with 2 kits each and every month, of varied and interesting investigations, including what you asked for - forensics.

Now the big question - when do we have our first meet?

Well, not next week. There are timetable issues that we (myself, Mrs Slyfield and Mrs Collins) need to resolve so watch this space!

OK, so the kits were in and we quickly got started with the assembly process, at the start of period 5. Cal pointed out we had the wrong glue and so we quickly *found* lots of UHU glue and all was well in the world again.

Mrs Collins provided the tools and, working in pairs, teams quickly assembled the balsa fins to the tubular construction, etc..

After Break, George led the session; he explained the effects of a horizontal force on a vertical trajectory. This was important (as we found out later), on where the rocker might actually end-up, on its inevitable downward journey.

By 3pm, we were ready for the big launch and Mr Moss also turned up. George and I assembled the launch pad, but we were a bit scared because inter-college competitions were taking place on the back field. Anyway, after some very clever and careful wind directions analysis (left eye-brow raised), we were ready for a launch.

the rest is history, as they say: some great launches, with working parachutes; some great launches, with no parachutes; some dodgy cabling and some flat batteries. This was, in every way possible, seriously fun. Check out the pictures above.

On the first launch, I admit that I got a *little scared* and in Cal's words - "I've never seen Mr Bhambra move so fast". yer, thanks for that Cal. Mrs Slyfield also laughed. For your information, i wasn't *scared* as you lot thought, I moved quickly to shield all EmmTech, in the event any piece should go flying. A hero, then, rather than a coward methinks.

We had some light party food but had to listen to Mrs Slyfield's husband's music (we liked it really). Earlier, we watched the Apollo 11 take-off from 1969.

The whole thing finished by around 4.30pm when we the teachers and Jason, returned to S8 to tidy up. Where were you Matt Slyfield?

Have a great Summer holiday guys.

OK, so we could have quietly disappeared for the summer, but NO, NO WAY.

Mrs Slyfield and I have just been shopping - Oh yer, and not for groceries..No, for Rockets and a launchpad. yep, you heard me right, I said ROCKETS, that's R -O -C-K-E-T-S.

Ok calm down Mr B and tell everyone about the plan:

Next Thursday, you're off timetable Periods 5 & 6, and we're all meeting in Mrs Slyfield's room. You'll work on assembling rocket kits in pairs. We have a number of Yankee/Level 1 rockets on order and a single launchpad

From 3pm, we'll have a party. I'll bring the food, you bring your own music and I'll play it on the computer. I'll play it but I don't have to like it.

Got it? Any questions?

If for whatever reason the rockets don't arrive on time, we'll postpone it. But assume that we're getting together next Thursday.

Now, listen up: it's time for a few big THANK YOU's:

1. Thank you to Mrs Slyfield for going out of your way (again) to collect the Rockets

2. Thank you to Mrs Collins for joining the team

3. Thank you to Dr Sharman for making STEMNET possible

4. Thank you to Mr Matthias for allowing you to come off TT next Thursday

5. FINALLY, Thank you to all those who have contributed so well to the success that EmmTech has been.

School uniform please...

Assemble in L6 for prompt departure and briefing

Bring lunch + some money (if you want)

Do I have your consent form? If not, make sure you have it or you will not travel! If you emailed it, then fine.

Can you please BLOG this to say a big thank you and to give the good people at BP some feedback on how the day was FOR YOU?

My letter to BP:

Survey Response: Survey Response  

Thank you for your honest response. We will use your answers to plan for next year. It is assuring to note how many of you are now more interested in STEM subjects.

Here is the final list of pupils going to Pangbourne next Tuesday:

Please complete the attached and either sign and return to Mr Bhambra, or complete and email back to me at:

tbhambra@emmbrook.wokingham.sch.uk

If you mail it to me, I will need a parent mobile number contact.

All returns by Tuesday 30th June 2009, 3pm latest. letter to parents re science trip

The afternoon of the 25th June will all be about preparing for our visit to BP Pangbourne on the 30th June (I need your trip form return asap).

Please find attached interesting preparatory worksheets that we will go through in order to fully inform our visit. I also have a 15 minute video I'd like to share with you in relation a full-size solar assembled in the U.S. from scratch!

We have found the solar cars challenging - there have been many obstacles along the way and some of you have tried very interesting work-arounds.

Let's see what BP have to say about solar car design.

Mrs Slyfield and Mrs Collins have been very busy working on rocket cars and their design. Just yesterday, we ordered rocket kits ready for September.

We are still planning on having a STEMNET day some time soon. With so much to cram in, in the last few weeks, we may leave that until September, when we'll welcome a new batch of KS3 pupils into EmmTech.

solar_energy_activity photovoltaic_energy_activity

Oh, I will need you to do a short review on how you have felt things have gone for you this year as a member of EmmTech. I haven't designed a fancy questionnaire, or anything, but questions you need to consider:

1. What have you enjoyed the most/least?

2. Have you enjoyed working in your team?

3. What are you now better at, as a result of being in EmmTech - i.e. do you think that you are now more interested in STEM subjects?

4. Long way, I know, but would you consider doing a STEm subject at A Level?

5. How well have you done in STEM subjects this year? Have you made progress?

Thanks