Year 4 Go Wild for STEM! Designing Dream Homes for Sun Bears
What do you get when you mix creativity, teamwork and a passion for animals? An unforgettable STEM adventure! St Lawrence Primary School Year 4 pupils have been busy putting their brilliant minds to work as they took part in an exciting competition run by the Colchester Zoological Society — and what a journey it has been!
A Bear-y Important Challenge
The task? To design a brand-new enclosure for sun bears — the smallest bears in the world, but certainly not short on personality! The children explored what these amazing animals need to thrive, from climbing structures and shady resting spots to enrichment activities that keep them happy and healthy.
STEM Skills in Action
This wasn’t just about drawing a nice picture — it was full-on STEM learning in action! Pupils used their knowledge of:
Science – understanding animal habitats and needs
Technology – researching and planning designs
Engineering – thinking about structure and layout
Maths – measuring, scaling and problem-solving
They carefully considered how to create an environment that was not only safe and practical, but also enriching and engaging for the bears.
Working in teams, the classroom buzzed with ideas, discussions and laughter. It was wonderful to see how well the children collaborated — sharing roles, listening to each other and building on each other’s ideas.
Their dedication truly shone through. Every group showed:
✨ Fantastic teamwork
✨ Creative thinking
✨ Determination to do their best
✨ A real sense of fun throughout the process
The highlight? Turning their designs into 3D models! Using a variety of materials, pupils carefully constructed their enclosures, adding thoughtful details that reflected everything they had learned. From climbing frames to water features and leafy hideaways, each model was unique — and incredibly impressive!
With their models complete, excitement is building as the children prepare to enter their creations into the competition. They are incredibly proud of their work — and rightly so! No matter the outcome, every single pupil has already achieved something amazing: they have worked as engineers, designers and conservationists, all while having a fantastic time. This project has been a brilliant example of learning at its best — hands-on, meaningful and full of enthusiasm. Year 4 have truly shown what can be achieved with curiosity, creativity and teamwork.
Well done, Year 4 — your ideas are wild, wonderful and full of heart! We can’t wait to see how you get on in the competition
Photos from St Lawrence C of E Primary School