Luton Borough Council commissioned STEMPOINT East to deliver a STEM Day at Woodlands Secondary School in Luton.

The students were given a glimpse of what it would be like to work in STEM industries.   

The REMIT was to develop the student’s awareness of the STEM jobs available to them.

STEMPOINT East staff were involved in two lessons:

Firstly, with the year 11s who were discussing what they wanted to do when they left Woodlands. 

·       Where would they like to work?

·       Where did they want to live - remain at home, live in managed accommodation or flat share?

It was decided based on interactions that the theme for STEM day would be Sustainability.

Students were encouraged to think about what they wanted to be, and what were their aspirations aided by questions:

• What do you like to do when you are at home

• Favourite sport, television programme or music

• Your Pets/Games & Books/Favourite Food

• Or something else

The students then discussed using STEM in their daily lives, examples given were:

• How much have you grown from when you are little

• Using a mobile phone

• The bus that brings you to school

• Change received at the Tuck Shop

To develop their understanding of STEM and employability skills, the students participated in the Peg Tower Challenge with the aim of building the tallest tower using 50 wooden clothes pegs. The students were immediately on task looking for different ways to build their structures.  All the towers were very different, and the winning team, Cobra Kai’s was 41cms tall.  Each team member received potted herbs from Tesco as a prize.   Tesco shared their plans on how to reduce Food Waste and challenged the students to become Food  Heroes. 

Students were introduced to the concept of “From Seed to Lunchbox” with a demonstration of the stages a seed goes through from being planted to being eaten.  Many types of STEM were highlighted in this activity.

To demonstrate in real terms the life cycle of a seed, the students were tasked with choosing pots to grow their choice of seed in.  Basil, Coriander, Radish and Sunflowers were available.  The students decorated their pots and then planted the seed. 

By the end of the day, students were able to appreciate how they could be employed in a sector that used STEM.