October 09 2014 | Kent & Medway | Views: 1609
On Thursday 9 October at Canterbury Christ Church University, Medway Campus, local school teachers and STEM Ambassadors were challenged to make vacuum cleaners. The attendees were presented with a box of materials including coffee cups, drinks bottles and motors. Mixed teams of teachers and STEM Ambassadors competed to be the first to engineer a working vacuum cleaner.
A sprinkle of debris from a bag of shredded £5 notes was given to each table so they could test the sucking power of their constructions. Some went onto refine their design to include a collecting compartment, made accessible by a bottle top, while others opted for the more traditional bag style made from a napkin.
At the end of the CPD session each team had a working vacuum cleaner, there was a variety of designs proving their ability to clean away the remaining cake crumbs. The teachers went away enthused to use the kits in STEM Clubs and lessons with STEM Ambassador support.
If you are interested in borrowing a Super Sucker: Build a Vacuum Kit, which also has equipment and instructions to build gliders, please contact kentandmedwaystem@canterbury.ac.uk for more information. Furthermore, if you would like STEM Ambassadors to support a STEM Club, lesson or activity please see:
