Webinars & online PD
Our STEM webinars provide teachers and educators with a variety of tools and educational concepts to meet a range of requirements of the NQF and the EYLF.
Online workshops
Inspire STEM
- Explore, play, reflect
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 three live webinars, Little Scientists will introduce the concepts, methods and skills to early childhood teachers and educators. 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.
This series includes 3 webinars each, held 4pm-5pm.
Download flyer: Inspire STEM: Explore, Play, Reflect [pdf]
Completing the Inspire STEM Webinar Series – ONLINE before 31 July 2021 under NESA’s interim arrangements will contribute 3 hours of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Accredited PD in the priority area of Delivery and assessment of Early Years Learning Framework addressing standard descriptors 2.1.2, 3.3.2, 6.2.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.
Completing this online webinar series will contribute 3 hours for online workshops of ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) registered PD.
Completing this online webinar series will contribute 3 hours for online workshops of ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) registered PD.
INSPIRE STEM - 9, 10, 13 August (3 part series)
Inspired by the topic of National Science Week, Food: different by design, we are putting on a STEM morning tea. How loud is your sip and crunch? What effect does smell have on your taste buds? You were told to never play with your food but join us for a hands-on, play-based, inquiry-led investigation into food.
Children enjoy exploring food and have so many questions about it: “What’s in a sip?” “What colour tastes the best?” Have you ever wondered how to answer these questions? We will unpack STEM food for you.
INSPIRE STEM -11, 12, 18 October (3 part series)
Come and investigate with us the creatures that call Australia home and their habitats. Full of practical, hands on advice on creation of habitats in an early childhood setting, investigations into animal adaptations to Australian conditions with musical and literacy links.
“What the difference between a reptile, mammal and bird? What’s a monotreme or marsupial? Why is wombat poo cubic? “- Young children are filled with questions about the world they live in: Have you ever wondered how to answer their big questions?
Webinar series
STEM Hour
- Connect, learn, grow
In this monthly webinar series, Little Scientists hosts panel discussions with experts and leaders from different fields. Our guests take you on a journey through their field and link their passion to yours, connecting STEM with early childhood education.
You can attend each episode live or watch a recording later. Cost: $25 per session.
2021 STEM hour topics
Click link below to jump to webinar details.
Apr: Citizen Science in early childhood education – PAST
May: Bee kind. Learning about bees in early childhood – PAST
Jun: Enriching early childhood with Indigenous knowledge – PAST
Jul: Exploring Bush Tucker
Aug: Food for thought – philosophical inquiry with children
Sep: Our animals are in danger! Protect our wildlife
Oct: Women in space – female STEM role models
Nov: Education for Sustainability Part 1: Tackling climate change with children
Dec: Education for Sustainability Part 2: Children’s rights and responsibilities
STEM HOUR - 16 July
What comes to mind when we think about Australian cuisine? There are few things more Aussie than meat pies and the good old barbie. In our July webinar, we will celebrate food that has been here for thousands of years, much longer than the sausage sizzle: Bush Tucker.
Join us on a journey back in time when wattle seed, river mint and kakadu plum nourished generation after generation. Indigenous Elder Auntie May, Curator Life Sciences Scott Pullyblank, Environmental Educator Damian Stirling, and Louise Reid, Educator at Family Day Care Children’s Services ‘The Who’ in Cairns will share ideas on how to include native plants in inquiry-based STEM learning in early childhood settings and discuss why we don’t see more native foods commercially available.
STEM HOUR - 16 August
How does a cow turn into a sausage?”; “Why is it ok to eat cows but not whales?; “Can I send my sandwich to a child who’s really hungry?”
As part of National Science Week, our webinar panel will discuss how children’s critical questions can be addressed in an honest and age-appropriate way that encourages further inquiry and supports a constructive world view. Focusing on philosophical inquiry and critical thinking in early childhood settings, our panel of experts will share ideas for critical reflection on the food we eat: Where does it come from? How is it made? Do all families eat the same foods?
STEM HOUR - 7 September
The children’s book Hairy Nose, Itchy Butt light-heartedly addresses a serious problem, the struggles of the critically endangered Northern hairy-nosed wombat.
The isolation of Australian wildlife for thousands of years has made our animals even more vulnerable to changes to the ecosystem and as a result many Australian species are endangered or have already become extinct. As part of Threatened Species Day, our panel will share why our fauna is in danger and what we, our children and the entire Australian society can and must do to protect our wildlife.
STEM HOUR - 8 October
Since the beginning of space travel, only 11.5% of astronauts have been female. Asked to draw a scientist, two thirds of primary school children will draw a man in a white lab coat. In Australia, only 35% of STEM university degrees are awarded to women.
As part of World Space Week, we will ask female astronomers why they pursued a career in STEM, what we can do to prevent gender bias in young children and what needs to happen to create a world where girls and boys alike can reach for the stars.
STEM HOUR - 12 November
Is climate change relevant to our children? Or is the topic too complex and too hard to grasp? Rather than wondering if a topic is suitable, we could ask ourselves: How can we make it suitable? Our children will have to deal with the effects of climate change and the least we can do is prepare them for the tough job ahead.
As the UN decides on further measures for reaching zero emissions, our panel will discuss age-appropriate ways to explore the effects of climate change on our planet and will help us provide answers to children’s questions about climate change.
STEM hour - 10 December
In Australia, 86 animal species are considered critically endangered and natural ecosystems worldwide are getting smaller and smaller – all largely as a result of human actions. The decisions we make today will inevitably impact our children’s future.
Considering what’s at stake for future generations, are we paying enough attention to our children? Are their voices being heard? Are we teaching them to express themselves and to participate as active citizens? As part of Human Rights Day, our panel will be discussing children’s right to actively participate in critical matters such as sustainability and how we can prepare children for the task ahead.