National Science Week webinar series with Little Scientists

Diving into STEM – Inspiring children to explore and discover

Young children are filled with questions about the world they live in: “Why do cats have fur?” “Why don’t bees make square honeycomb?” “Why is snow white but the ocean blue?” – Have you ever wondered how to answer their big questions?

STEM education is so much more than factual answers to complex questions and Little Scientists will show you how easy and uncomplicated it can be. In a series of live webinars, Little Scientists will introduce the concepts, methods and skills to early childhood teachers, educators, parents, librarians, youth workers, primary school teachers – indeed, anyone who is interested in developing skills and enthusiasm for STEM inquiry in children (or themselves!).

We will show you some simple techniques to cultivate children’s skills and excitement for STEM exploration, and our hands-on session will enrich your repertoire of STEM activities. You will have an opportunity to virtually meet and interact with other STEM enthusiasts, share experiences and become part of a community that supports children in becoming competent and confident problem solvers and learners for life.

The webinars are scheduled to run for one hour each and include a Q&A session and a networking opportunity. You will be engaged in hands-on STEM activities during the second session, for which you will receive a materials list in advance.

NESA accreditation is available for NSW registered teachers.

Series outline

Webinar 1: Overview

Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2020 10:00am – 11:00am AEST

Overview of early STEM education and inquiry-based learning, focusing on the importance of playfulness and joy as impetuses to scientific discovery and research
Creating a rich learning environment to stimulate discoveries, enrich STEM learning opportunities and nurture curiosity in children and adults alike
Resourcing STEM activities, learning how to use what you already have for fantastic explorations

Webinar 2: Hands-on STEM exploration

Date: Thursday, 13 August 2020 10:00am – 11:00am AEST

Interactive demonstrations of STEM explorations using items found around the home
Discovering everyday phenomena and explanations of basic scientific concepts
Learning techniques to find STEM explorations in everyday situations making STEM accessible to young children

Webinar 3: Reflection

Date: Wednesday, 26 August 2020 10:00am – 11:00am AEST

Reflection on what has been learned so far, what has worked well and how to overcome challenges
Discussion of next steps to integrate STEM exploration further in individual circumstances

Who is this webinar for: parents, librarians, teachers, educators and anyone who wishes to spark children’s excitement in STEM exploration

Questions? Email us at workshops@littlescientists.org.au

Completing this webinar series will contribute to 3 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Registered PD for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW. To be eligible for NESA accreditation you are required to attend all three webinars live.

This initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia as part of National Science Week.