STEM Week: Big Learning, Outdoor Adventures and Curious Minds

This month, our pupils enjoyed a fantastic STEM Week filled with hands-on learning, inspiring visitors and — of course — plenty of muddy, inquisitive fun!

We are always keen to make the most of our beautiful surroundings, and this special week was a wonderful example of how our small school offers big opportunities for every child.

Exploring Climate Change in the Forest

One of the highlights of the week was a visit from a STEM Ambassador, who spent an afternoon with the children at our Forest School site. Through engaging activities, the children learned about climate change and the Earth’s atmosphere in a way that was both accessible and memorable.

In one activity, the children worked together to hold up a large plastic sheet to represent the Earth’s atmosphere, helping them visualise how greenhouse gases can become trapped.

The session also explored the importance of healthy soil. The children investigated the forest floor, carefully searching for the tiny creatures that help keep our planet in balance. They were delighted to discover worms, woodlice, spiders and snails busily at work beneath their feet.

Learning how these small creatures contribute to the gases we need to survive helped the children understand just how interconnected our world really is. To demonstrate the idea that “a little can be good, but too much can be harmful,” our visitor gave each child a small piece of chocolate. The analogy of greenhouse gases being helpful in small amounts — but damaging in excess — certainly captured their attention!

Pine Class Gets Practical

Back in the classroom, Pine Class rolled up their sleeves for some practical science by cleaning dirty water using homemade filters. Using plastic bottles filled with layers of cotton wool, sand and stones, the children poured muddy water through their creations to see what would happen.

The results were impressive. The water that emerged was visibly clearer (although we agreed it still wouldn’t be suitable for drinking!). The children could clearly see the dirt trapped in the cotton wool, making the science behind filtration tangible and easy to understand.

A Small School with Big Opportunities

STEM Week was a wonderful reminder of how much can be achieved in a nurturing environment where every child is known and valued. At Peaslake Free School, opportunities like these allow pupils to explore, question and grow in confidence — while developing a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.