Beyond Frontiers: Megapods/Astronomy/Electronics

Mega Megapods!

As soon as we entered T04 we were hit by a wave of noise and were amazed by the swarm of bustling people piecing the Megapods together.

But our first question: What is a Megapod? Well, Mr. Webb explained to us that first you make four triangular-based pyramids (a pod) using bamboo or newspaper, and stick them together to make a quad pod. Once you have made four quad pods, you then stick them together to make a megapod. Four Megapods make a space pod and four space pods make it big enough for the entire class to fit in. We know this may sound confusing, but Mr. Webb assured us that they would work. Apparently, when they are finished, they will be as tall as the canteen!

We discovered that making the pods help to develop your teamwork, spatial and structural skills that can help you to get a job later in life.

We then asked pupils what the hardest thing about making them was and they replied that making them all stick together was difficult. Several pupils claimed it was a great thing to do and it was very enjoyable.

By David and Robert (Y8)

Up to the Stars

… In space pods! The space pods are portable buildings to transport you to another planet, made from simply: sticks of wood, sellotape and old newspaper. The aim is to create the highest mast. The pods should be made of 64 pyramids and should be at least 6 and half metres from the floor to the mast! As we were on looking the students were working together in small teams to make their space pods; everyone was making a creative contribution and appeared to be having miles of fun.

This activity challenges communication skills, logic, good design and strong team work to bring out the best in the enthusiastic pod makers. One of the teachers involved in the pod-making strongly believed that this was a great project, telling us, “There's a part to play for everyone, everybody gets an important role. The point of it is to make tiny pods and assemble them to make one gigantic pod, it's great fun and the mast is tremendous for creativity and competition”.

In the final countdown sellotape and newspaper were flying everywhere in order to finish the towers and let me tell you they were pretty impressive!

By Sophie & Laura (y8)

Beeping beacon

That insane beeping noise is still in our heads after visiting electronics in T01. They are designing and making emergency beacons to attach to the “Space Pods”. They are designed to send out signals when the Pods are up on Mars, but to us it seemed they were made to drive us crazy! They used soldering skills y8's have been using throughout the year so it wasn't as if they were trying something new. Their hands were busy as they got to work on their own individual circuits. The circuits then came together to create one beacon.

The students seemed to be enjoying getting stuck in, they were all busy, all with a job to do. All were entertained and amused by the constant flashing and beeping of the beacons.

They successfully topped the Pods off with the beacons, although many Pods crashed when the beacons were being attached! I doubt they will ever be seen on Mars, but the noise will echo in the ears of all the students who were taking part.

By Sophie & Laura (y8)