APS News 30

6 Abingdon Prep • April 2022 IN S SCIENCE WEEK Each spring, schools all over the UK celebrate Science Week, an annual event of STEM activities promoted by the British Science Association (BSA). We were busy at Abingdon Prep with every year group taking part in fun activities and workshops. Reception and Year 1 were assisted by 8R to make slime, a perennial messy favourite! Years 2 and 3, again assisted by some Year 8s, looked at life on Mars, designing and constructing creatures that might survive the tough conditions there. Year 4 made nests from twigs which were tested by wind and rain to see if the eggs within remained protected. Year 5 explored aviation, making paper planes that would loop the loop, and then building other models from cardboard to see if they would ‘fly’. Andy from Science Oxford came to give their popular Forces Show for Year 6 - there was no shortage of volunteers to join in the fun demonstrations. Year 7 were visited by neuroscientist Professor Claire Mackay who gave a workshop exploring the different roles scientists play and how they must all communicate to be successful. Year 8 got all suited up for their workshop led by retired forensic scientist John Bates. Once the crime was solved, arrests were made and a court room scene, which stressed the importance of being an expert witness, was staged in costume complete with a variety of bad wigs for the legal teams and defendants! DRAMA Senior full: Oliver, Freddie, Oskar. Junior full: Monty. MUSIC Senior half: Ollie, Oliver, Oliver, Ollie, Freddie, Oskar, Finn, Charlie, Paul, George, Paddy, Barnaby. Junior full: Arjun, Rahul. Junior half: Benjamin, Teddy, Daniel, Rupert. CDT Senior full: Oliver. Junior full: Rupert, Jonty, Kian, Joe Arjun, Dewi, George, George. SPRING PERFORMING AND CREATIVE ARTS COLOURS HOUSE MERIT CUP With 2675 points, earning them a home clothes day in summer term, the House Merit Cup was won by: PHOENIX 2nd: Unicorn - 2640 points 3rd: Griffin - 2564 points 4th: Dragon - 2476 points