SMART STEM Club for Homeschoolers - Term 1 2025

SMART STEM Club - Term 1, 2025 - exclusively for homeschool students

Is your child interested in coding and robotics but doesn’t know where to start? Perhaps they've tried some block coding programs (eg, Scratch) and are ready to combine this with some hands-on robotics activities. Our Build your own Robo-pet: Coding and robotics for beginners* program is just for them!

Students will build a mechanical rover using LEGO® then pair it with a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 Intelligent Brick to transform it into a robot. By the end of the program, they will have created and decorated their own Robo-pet and programmed it using block coding.

Over five weeks, our budding robotics engineers will:

🎰 Start using block coding to help their robot navigate through a maze

🐰 Add sound to their robot and begin designing accessories for their Robo-pet

💻 Incorporate an ultra-sonic sensor and begin experimenting with coding loops

🤖 Attach a mechanical arm and continue coding the robot to respond to sensors

🦖 Decorate their Robo-pet and explore more advanced coding functions

There will be plenty of time for open-ended exploration and creativity each week, so your child can work at their own pace with support from our expert educators. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to ignite your child’s passion for coding and robotics!

*If your child has attended a coding and robotics STEM Club previously, this course is probably not for them as it assumes little to no prior experience.

Details

Host: The University of Newcastle's SMART Program

Dates and Time: 5 consecutive Monday mornings, with drop-off from 10:15am

Monday 10 March, 2025 | 10:30am to 11:45am
Monday 17 March, 2025 | 10:30am to 11:45am
Monday 24 March, 2025 | 10:30am to 11:45am
Monday 31 March, 2025 | 10:30am to 11:45am
Monday 7 April, 2025 | 10:30am to 11:45am

Who: Homeschooled students currently in primary school years 3, 4, 5, and 6

Location: Callaghan Campus, University of Newcastle, NSW Australia (Building location to be advised after booking)

Cost: $150 per student (incl. GST) for the 5 sessions

Contact: Please contact the SMART Program with any questions via 0488 231 356 or smart@newcastle.edu.au

Enrolments

• Limited to 20 students, based on order of registration via Humanitix. A waitlist will be created when all tickets are sold.
• Restricted to registered homeschool students currently enrolled in Years 3, 4, 5, or 6
• Families enrolling 2 or more students are invited to use the discount code FAMILY#25 at checkout and will receive a $25 discount