A new extra-curricular club was formed for the boys in Kindergarten to Year 2. VATE, an acronym for Vocabulary, Art, Technology and Engineering, offered our boys a broad scope of enriching explorations.
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Each session encouraged boys to spark ideas, ask questions, research, create and reflect upon the world around them.
There was an overwhelming response with over 100 boys expressing their interest to join! Special thanks to Mrs Gordon for her help with materials, photography and for her steady guidance on how to turn ideas into a concrete reality.
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Our Semester 1 ‘Super Structures’ sessions saw boys virtually visiting interesting architecture from around the world on Google Earth. They quickly noticed the curved shapes predominant in the designs of Antoni Gaudi and the natural design features of ‘La Sagrada Familia’ in Spain. Buildings with tessellating shapes were admired at ‘The Great Court British Museum’ and ‘The Gherkin’ building in London.
The most exciting weeks involved design challenges, where boys were encouraged to express their ideas through their choice of mediums, including modelling clay, craft materials, magnetic blocks and KAPLA blocks, incorporating interesting design features, marble mazes and circular buildings into their collaborations.
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One challenge, saw boys working in small groups to complete a design according to a specific set of criteria, producing a range of strong multi-fix towers that were not only 15cms high but could also hold a stack of chapter books.
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Importantly, VATE Clubbers soon realised that teamwork is at the heart of successful design. It was so impressive to see boys supporting each other, suggesting ideas and responding positively to failures.
Mrs Susan Ward
VATE Club Co-ordinator
