STEM Hour: Inquiry-based STEM projects in early learning

In this one-hour STEM Hour, we’ll explore the transformative power of inquiry-based STEM projects in early learning through the lens of two exceptional child-led projects. Our guest speakers are Christy-Lee Antonas from Hensman Street Elementary (Perth, WA) and Dee Wilde and Tash Huddy from Blaxland Preschool (Leura, NSW).

Purchasing a ticket allows you to tune in live or via a recording. The recording will be shared via email following the event and can be viewed for 3 days after the email is sent. This STEM Hour will be held on:  

Thursday 14 March 2024  
Time zones: 12-1pm (AEDT), 11am-12pm (AEST), 9-10am (AWST), 11:30am-12:30pm (ACDT), 10:30-11:30am (ACST).  

Hensman Street Elementary was awarded the 2022 Little Scientists STEM Award (WA) for their project “Ramps and Pathways”, which was inspired by their children’s love of playing with loose parts. The project provided an opportunity to deepen children’s thinking about ramps, pathways, gradients, speed, weight, and many other STEM concepts. It involved an excursion to Perth Zoo and foreshore and corresponding with the creators of the “Treehouse” book series: Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. 

Blaxland Preschool’s stand-out project was presented at the ECA Conference 2023 and was sparked by their children sighting a lonely koala after the bush fires. This led to an investigation into koala habitats and the types of trees and leaves koalas depend on, which they discovered are Eucalyptus Punctata. The children decided to collect these gum seeds and plant them to grow new eucalypts for the koalas to eat. They also sent seeds to the international space station (yes, you read that correctly!) to learn how well these seeds would grow in space. 

By exploring these fascinating and inspiring projects, educators will gain knowledge about:  

• Each stage of an inquiry-based STEM project. 
• The difference between an experiment and a project (plus a good vs. great project!) 
• The role of children vs. the educator. 
• The inquiry-based learning cycle.  

This is a useful session for early childhood educators and early primary teachers who are keen to embark on their first inquiry-based STEM project, further develop their skills and knowledge in this area, and/or gain inspiration for their next project.   

This is also a timely opportunity for your service to learn about how to become certified as a Little Scientists House, which involves running and documenting an inquiry-based STEM project.  

2024 is also an Awards year! This means your service can submit a project for consideration as part of Little Scientists Early STEM Awards in 2024, which is Australia’s only dedicated awards for STEM excellence in the early childhood education sector. By submitting a project, your service will go in the running to be crowned as the winner of the Early STEM Award in your state or territory and even take out the national award.