By Christy Mathers, Mont'Kiara International School (M'KIS), Middle School Math and Science Teacher and Grade 6 Team Lead. 

Science students at Mont'Kiara International School (M'KIS) took on a buoyancy and engineering experiment, testing their designs in the school's swimming pool. Student learning at M'KIS is an active, immersive experience where curiosity and real-world problem-solving take center stage. Guided by our Middle School Math/Science Teacher, Christy Mathers, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) students transform abstract scientific principles into memorable learning moments. The science lessons encourage students to think like innovators, embrace calculated risks, and master complex concepts through authentic trial and discovery. Read on to discover how our Grade 6 scientists put physics and design thinking to the ultimate test in their MYP Science unit.

To kick off our recent MYP Science unit, I attempted to float across the school pool using a single piece of cardboard—an experiment that quickly left me submerged! This hands-on demonstration launched our Grade 6 scientists into mastering Criterion B (Designing), as teams researched buoyancy, planned variables, and created step-by-step procedures with one goal in mind: designing a functional boat capable of carrying a classmate across the pool.

Equipped with only cardboard, plastic bottles, and tape, students turned their designs into reality for an exciting race day. The results were thrilling—some boats glided successfully to the finish line, others tipped over and became makeshift rafts, and a few completely disintegrated along the way! Throughout the project, students truly embodied the IB Learner Profile as Risk-takers embarking on their maiden voyages, Thinkers solving complex engineering problems, and Communicators working together under pressure.

To wrap up the unit, students will spend one class focusing on Criterion C (Processing and Evaluating). They will analyze their race data, reflect on design flaws, and propose scientific improvements based on how their vessels performed. Thank you to everyone who supported our young engineers during build days and pool testing!