The MOI Effect

MOI doesn’t just teach STEAMS—we ignite it. STEAMS School’s one-day-a-week programme is immersive, hands-on, and future-focused, empowering tamariki and rangatahi to think like engineers, experiment like scientists, and create like innovators. Through real-world challenges, cutting-edge technology, and a spiral learning model that grows with the learner, students build confidence, resilience, and curiosity. They don’t just learn about technology—they use it, question it, break it, fix it, and reimagine what’s possible.

The typical STEAMS School day is broken up into three sessions: Ignite, Explore, Create

*Variations occur in STEAMS specialized and STEAMS Sr.

Session 1: Ignite – Guided Discovery

This session sparks curiosity and sets the stage. Learning is driven through conversation, shared thinking, and guided discovery. The teacher introduces key ideas and opens up pathways for deeper exploration. This is where core concepts are unpacked, questioned, and brought to life.

Example–Term 1 Theme: Flight
Big Question: How is LIFT achieved?
Key Concepts: Bernoulli’s Principle, gravity vs lift, high and low pressure, balanced and unbalanced forces.

Students actively engage with the teacher through demonstrations, discussion, and digital explorations as the learning is deliberately steered toward big ideas and real-world connections.

Session 2: Explore – Hands-on Experimentation

Now it’s time to test the theory. In this session, tamariki dive into practical, hands-on investigations that bring the learning to life. Through experimentation, observation, and play, students experience the science in action.

Example:
A Bernoulli Exploration Lab where multiple interactive stations are set up around the room. Students rotate through activities that let them see, feel, and experiment with air pressure and lift—discovering firsthand how invisible forces create flight.

This is messy, exciting, curiosity-driven learning at its best.

Session 3: Create – Deeper Exploration & MOI Thread Learning

This session is all about taking learning further. Students apply their new understanding through creative projects, engineering challenges, and open-ended exploration.

Examples:

Designing and making Bernoulli masks to take home
Engineering a Bernoulli blower
Extending ideas into real-world problem solving

Alongside this, MOI Thread Learning weaves through the session. MOI spirals learning in coding, electronics, and technology every term—allowing new ākonga to jump in confidently while experienced learners continue to level up.

Students repeatedly revisit and build on these skills in increasingly independent and creative ways, developing confidence, competence, and innovation.

Thread learning may include:

Designing and building circuits using a range of materials
Unplugged coding and computational thinking
Programming Ozobots and Edisons
Soldering, Tinkercad design, 3D printing, and laser cutting
Critical thinking and problem-solving challenges

This is where curiosity turns into capability—and learners begin to see themselves as engineers, coders, makers, and innovators.

STEAMS School is recommended for tamariki who:

· Have an enquiring mind and a thirst for knowledge-they are curious

· Are willing to sustain concentration and effort-they are in-depth learners

· Will actively contribute to a positive learning environment-they share knowledge

When does it meet, and where?

The school is held during school terms, from 9:00 am to 2:45 pm. Except Little STEAMerS which meets from 9-12.

For 2026, STEAMS School will meet in two locations, Victory School in Nelson and Holy Trinity Church Richmond. Students commit to one site.

Little STEAMerS (ages 5-6) Nelson (Wed)

STEAMS Jr (ages 7-9) Nelson (Tues/Fri) Richmond (Thurs)

STEAMS Sr (ages 10-13) Nelson (Tues) Richmond (Thurs)

STEAMS Specialized (ages 9-14) Nelson (Wed)

How much does it cost?

The students come for a three-week trial-as a new student you pay for that through Humanitix. The trial is non-refundable.

If both family and teacher feel there is a good fit for the child in the class, they continue for the rest of the term. You are then invoiced for the full term less the amount paid for the Trial.

Payment is by term, with a cost of $73 per day inc GST. We have a limited number of scholarships available that are awarded on a term by term basis for those with financial need for 25% off. Little STEAMerS is $30 per day inc GST and scholarships are not offered for this course.

Will my child’s school mind if they miss a day each week?

You’ll need to let your child’s school know they’ll be attending STEAMS School one day per week. So far, this hasn’t been an issue—many schools across the region actively support student participation in the programme.

Contact the host of STEAMS School NELSON Term 3 2026