What's On?

The REACTioneers STEM club was set up with the idea of allowing children to have an insight of what engineers can accomplish and how they influence our world. The club’s main objective is to allow the children to broaden their learning around STEAM subjects, whilst being fun and enjoyable, and develop exploration.

The club has undertaken various activities since starting in 2018, including designing, building and erupting volcanoes, attending a local STEAM trail investigating the range of power sources. They also dedicated several sessions looking at all things space ahead of the 50-year anniversary of the moon landing. This included building and launching rockets, creating a solar system, and attending REACT’s ‘Space Day’ where they visited a planetarium, and engaged with C-STEM building a space station.

The club’s aims to raise the children’s aspirations was recently highlighted from a visit by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal. The children had the opportunity to meet and talk to Princess Anne, and showcase their favourite REACTioneer’s creation. This was a particularly proud moment for all the children to have their work recognised by the Royal Patron of WISE, and her encouragement regarding science and engineering opportunities.

REACT Engineering staff volunteer to run the activities each week in term time.

CSTEM is working with FIRST LEGO League to deliver the programme aimed at 9 to 14 year olds, which is designed to get children excited about science and technology − and teach them valuable employment and life skills.

Teachers - why FIRST ® LEGO® League is perfect for your school - Impact studies show that students gain an increased interest in science and technology by working with FIRST LEGO League (FLL®). FLL does this by providing a practical and engaging way of involving students in the subject areas.   

AS A CLASSROOM RESOURCE, FIRST  LEGO LEAGUE...

• Promotes student engagement
• Allows for differentiation
• Promotes self-directed learning
• Encourages hands-on learning
• Has real-life connections.

YOUR STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP AND APPLY THEIR 21ST CENTURY LEARNING SKILLS TO…

• Identify relevant sources of information using a range of resources
• Use language and communication skills
• Understand the scientific method of formulating hypotheses, testing, evaluating and rejecting/confirming hypotheses
• Work as part of a team.  

YOUR STUDENTS WILL ALSO DEVELOP AND APPLY THEIR STEM SKILLS TO… 

• Develop, evaluate, and modify their design ideas
• Learn about the concepts of input, process, and output and the importance of feedback in control systems
• See how complex systems break down into sub-systems
• Apply their existing maths knowledge
• Engage in mathematical discussions of results. 

Cumbria’s Regional final will be announced shortly.

Local companies - CSTEM is also looking for financial and/or mentoring support for the local schools.

Schools and interested companies should contact Tony Gill for further information.

Tony Gill, CSTEM, Lane Farmhouse, Crooklands, Milnthorpe, LA7 7NH  

Tel No 01539 567101, Mobile 07977 512109, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When: September / October

Where: Lakes College, Lillyhall, Workington & Millom School

Provider: REACT Foundation

Further Info: Bringing the National Science Museum to West Cumbria

Watch this space for next year's KS2 science and engineerin show from the Science Museum's Outreach Team.

Interested schools should contact contact Irene McMillan on 01946 813778.

When: September / October

Where: at your school or college

Provider: REACT Foundation

Further Info: Bringing the National Science Museum to West Cumbria! 

Watch this space for next year's science and engineering show for Year 7, 8 and 9 students - a fantastic show brought to you all the way from London and delivered by the National Science Museum's Outreach Team.

Interested schools should contact contact Irene McMillan on 01946 813778. 

When: 29th June - 3rd July 2020

Where: REACT Engineering, Earl Street, Cleator Moor

Provider: REACT Engineering

Further Info: For those studying towards A Level qualifications REACT run a one week ‘Introduction Into Engineering™' seminar which takes students through a real engineering problem, to provide them with a clear understanding of what a professional engineer does for a living.

For further information or to apply online click here Into Engineering

Since conception, Dream Placement has been a fantastic success. The scheme offeres local sixth form students the opportunity to win a very special prize - a week’s dream placement with a highly successful Cumbrian business, shadowing the MD/CEO and working with their team. The Centre for Leadership Performance will be providing the winners with other leadership development opportunities, including a personal development coach. Further information can be found at www.cforlp.org.uk

The placements will take place in February each year.