Half term STEM Spectacular will amaze youngsters
Published on: 6 February 2023
Discover the exciting world of STEM at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands this February half term. Families are invited to take part in a week full of STEM activities, workshops and science shows, nestled amongst the inspiring aircraft displays.
Challenge your science skills, put your tech talents to the test, enhance your engineering abilities and add some magic to your mathematics. From 18-26 February, STEM Week offers families an exciting range of activities, helping children learn fundamental STEM concepts through play-based learning.
Get ready for lift off as you launch a rocket across the hangar and see how high and far will it go! Put your driving skills to the test by programming a Sphero robot and guide it through a maze. Or help save a biscuit from doom in the cargo drop activity, where you’ll need to create a parachute to safely drop the biscuit from a height. These free drop-in activities will be rotated throughout the half term break, click here to see what’s on each day.
Take your knowledge to the next level in the brilliantly mind boggling Science Show. This interactive time traveling extravaganza takes the audience through the volatile history of Chemistry. Expect plenty of audience participation and spectacular chemistry demonstrations in a journey through important concepts from the world of chemistry. Suitable for children aged 7 and over, this exciting and explosive interactive science show will change the way you see Chemistry forever. The show will take place on three days throughout half term, and will be delivered by the STEM Response Team from the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at the University of Wolverhampton. Tickets to the show are available to book online and cost £5.00, or £17.50 for a family (2 adults, 3 children).
The team from Raytheon will be encouraging families to take part in the Mini Quadcopter Challenge. Working in small teams you must work together to conceptualise and modify your Quadcopter based on a particular environmental challenge, this could be tracking polar bears in the arctic, or monitoring ocean plastic. You’ll have to plan your route and navigate obstacles as you fly your quadcopter in a mission.
The GE Aerospace team will be onsite Monday to Friday with their flight simulator and wind tunnel, perfect for visitors who feel the need for speed! Participate in their interactive problem-solving activities, including; In The Flight Direction where you must solve the software bugs and restore the power connection in order to fly the plane in the right direction. The Cockpit Captain activity is perfect for future pilots, in this coding challenge you’ll have to complete several tasks, including correctly coding the auto pilot to help the aircraft take off.
If your teenager is obsessed with capturing the perfect picture for social media, the smartphone photography workshop running on both Saturdays in February half term will help maximise their photography skills. In this hour long workshop, you will learn some basic photography theory, tips and tricks from the expert, before heading out into the hangars to practise your new skills. Delivered by Chappers Photography, this workshop is suitable for those aged 12 and over. Tickets cost £10.00 and are available to book online.
RAF Museum Midlands Public Events Manager, Amy Bertaut said:
‘It’s brilliant to be working with some fantastic event partners to deliver our packed programme of activities during our half term STEM Week. There’s something to get children of all ages excited about the fascinating world of STEM, whether that’s launching rockets, flying a Mini Quadcopter or watching the Science Show, families are guaranteed to have fun!’
Throughout STEM Week families can also try on RAF uniforms, decorate rocket money boxes and have a go at Airfix model making.
For further information and a schedule of all the activities taking place during STEM Week click here. Entry to the Museum and participation in the STEM activities is free. Admission charges apply for the Science Show and the Smartphone Photography Workshop, tickets are available to book online.