Gateway: Water Bottle Rockets

With Ash from Cobblers leading this week’s session, the students built water rockets using plastic bottles, cardboard fins and ping-pong balls in various styles and designs. They used a car foot pump and tripod to launch the rocket into the air in different ways.

The students adapted their deigns as they went along, discussing the science side of things such as force, trajectory, angles and pressure. They experimented with distance, speed, height and water/air pressure and we saw some huge launches! The students had to make sure there was just enough water in the bottles and the right amount of air pumped into them before the rockets went off suddenly. The trick was to try and stand clear and avoid getting soaked!


The pupils stuck at it and refined their rockets as they went along before creating super-jumbo double/triple and mini ones to see which ones would go furthest or highest.

Advanced Animation Club: Super Heroes

This week we are going to start a new project which will last over several weeks. After letting everyone have the first part of the session to finish/carry on with their own films/animations/comic books we then split them into three groups.

After a group discussion on super heroes, the task was then set for them to invent their very own super hero to star in a super hero movie. They had to take into consideration super powers, costume, name, secret identity, side kick, weakness, back story,  technology, logos etc.

Next week they will continue creating their super hero/villain.

 

 

 

 

Initiative & Problem Solving Games at Grendon

This week our Gateway boys had to use their initiative and problem solving skills to take part in team games.

We talked about how to attempt the various challenges which included tower building, pass the bucket, water bottle lift, brick support, memory game and balance ball.

These are the steps we took:

1. Define the situation

2. Identify the task

3. Describe the action

4. Explain the result

By looking at solving challenges in different ways, the students also used communication, co-operation, negotiation, teamwork and leadership skills.

Kenan: I enjoyed the water bottle challenge the best. It was difficult to get the string around the bottle and move it without it falling. In the end I wrapped the string around the bottom of the bottle sideways.I am pleased I did the balance board on my own.

Kris: I liked the balance board. We had to work together to go fast and slow and tilt it to get the ball in the bucket.

 

Script Writing Master Class!

This half term we will be holding a two day script writing master class.

We are very lucky to have James Clarke who is a writer based in Northampton lead the two days. James has written a number of commissioned stage plays for young people and in 2002 was long listed for a BAFTA with a short film he produced for television. James has written a number of books about film and has worked extensively with young people in community filmmaking. His writing has also been published in various magazines and other outlets. James studied Film at the University of Warwick and the University of Bristol.

The two days will aim to engage the children in the whole process of planning and script writing and even creating posters for their films. We will be looking at story development, scripting, storyboarding and even looking at resources needed for filming. These activities will boost literacy skills through reading, creative writing, speaking & listening.

The course will take place on a Wednesday 6th June & Thursday 7th June from 9am – 3pm. The cost of the course is £45 with cheques payable to: Northamptonshire County Council. There are a limited number of spaces so please send your cheque with the attached completed flyer into us ASAP to reserve your child’s place.

Parents/carers are responsible for getting their children to and from the centre and students will need to bring their own lunch.

Gateway: Shipwrecked on Grendon Island

The group took part in a ‘Shipwrecked’ session today where they were stranded on ‘Grendon’ desert Island. They had to solve clues to find survival items positioned around the grounds. The students worked independently or in a pair to find 36 items to bring back to the study centre.

Everyone had to deliberate and decide on which 10 items them would choose to help them survive on the island and justify their reasons. Then the whole group used their speaking and listening skills to argue persuasively as to why their items should stay. This involved communication, co-operation, reasoning, justifying and compromising skills. Eventually 10 items were agreed upon, including an axe, medicine, rope, knife, matches and a flare.

Here is some of the students discussion, choices and explanations.

Flare – if any boats or planes come near the island, they’ll know we’re there  – Tommy and Chris.

Medicine – If you feel ill or get bitten by a bug, you could get infected – Adam.

Bandages – get rid of these as we have medicine already – Tommy.

Matches – they light up really fast and make fire to cook fish – Dontell.

Axe – to cut down trees and chop up food before cooking – Tommy and Chris. Adam – I agree, the axe can be used to make shelter too. The knife isn’t as good for that.

Gun  – you can aim the gun to catch food but not the axe – Dontell. Chris – it’s too loud and would scare the animals. Adam -  use the knife and sneak around the animals rather than the gun.

Chris and Tommy – use the compass to find out which direction you are going in and to find your way back. You need a map with it too. Keep the map – Dontell.

Bottled water  – get rid of it as most plants have water in, coconuts have milk – Chris

Blankets  – they protect against insects – Adam. Use them to cover the shelter – Chris

Clothes – all agreed, we can set them on fire to signal a ship if we need to, we’d have the clothes we arrived in.

Torch/candle – we don’t need these as we have matches. Chris. Adam – I’d rather have a torch but the batteries might wear out.

Rope  – we can use it as a fishing line and to help make shelter – Adam.

Fishing rod  – we don’t need it as trees are made of wood and we have the axe to cut it down, use the knife to smooth it – Adam.  But we need the hook from it, we can’t make that – Chris. We can use worms and maggots for bait – Dontell.  We could make a spear – Tommy.

Fruit – We wouldn’t need this as there would be fruit on the island – Chris. It would be good to have a bowl though – Adam

Hat – we don’t need that, we can use the clothes to make one. We don’t want to get sunstroke – Tommy

Scissors – to cut the fish – Adam.