Every Monday after school, pupils from Years 8 to 10 gathered for one reason: to explore the exciting world of science in our STEM Club! This year was packed with hands-on experiments, surprising reactions, and plenty of “wow” moments.
We kicked things off by making lava lamps, combining oil, water, food colouring, and fizzy tablets. The result? A bubbling, bouncing light show in a bottle — and a fascinating way to learn about density and solubility.
Around Halloween, we made Sick Pumpkins. Pupils carved out their own designs, then added some green food colouring, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar that created a spooky green foam which oozed from the carved pumpkins. This messy experiment taught us about chemical reactions and catalysts in a fun, seasonal way.
Later, we explored chemiluminescence, the science behind glow sticks. By mixing certain chemicals, we created glowing liquids and learned how some reactions release energy as light — perfect for a dark classroom and a brighter understanding of chemistry!
One of the highlights this year was the Whoosh Bottle demo. After swirling alcohol vapor in a large container, we lit it — and BOOM! A flash of flame and a loud “whoosh” caught everyone by surprise. It was a dramatic demonstration of combustion and gas expansion.
We then investigated icicle formation. Pupils made a saturated solution of baking soda and allowed it to crystallise on a piece of wool producing long icicle like structures.
STEM Club wasn’t just about cool experiments — it was about teamwork, discovery, questioning science and finding solutions.
We’re already planning even more exciting experiments for next year. If you’re curious, creative, and not afraid to get your hands a little messy — come join us!