From the Head of Teaching and Learning

Engineers Without Borders

Last Monday, students in Years 5 and 6 were visited by Engineers Without Borders. They learnt about the many and varied engineering roles, what an engineer does, and they were given an engineering problem to solve. To solve the engineering problem, students were given a real-life context, where they learnt about the seasonal conditions in Cambodia and the implications for residents in the houses that they live in. Students were given a minimal budget and a small number of materials to buy within this budget and they were tasked with constructing a floating house.

Our students were deeply engaged in this task and the Engineers visiting our school were so impressed with their curiosity, deep engagement, and the questions they asked both about the cultural and geographic context within Cambodia and in their inquiry into what materials would help their house to float.

Students then tested their design and adjusted as needed. Once their floating house was stable enough to float, they tested their design further to see the weight it could carry by using a range of small weights that they placed on one at a time.

Our students absolutely loved having the Engineers Without Borders' volunteers visit us and I am sure we have more than a few budding engineers in our midst!