STEM webinars & PD
Our STEM webinars and online workshops 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 live online workshops, 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.
Download flyer: Inspire STEM: Explore, Play, Reflect [pdf]
Completing the Inspire STEM Webinar Series – ONLINE before 4 February 2022 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.
Upcoming Inspire STEM topics
Click link below to jump to online workshop details.
Oct 21: At home among the gum leaves
Feb 22: Embedding sustainability in your educational service or setting
Mar 22: Australian fossils, megafauna and dinosaurs
Jun 22: Diving into underwater STEM
INSPIRE STEM - 11, 12, 18 October 2021 (3-part online workshop)
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 is 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?
INSPIRE STEM - 23 & 25 November 2021 (2-part online workshop)
Come explore space with us – from Earth to the beyond. You will be delighted and inspired by our hands-on, inquiry-based approach to STEM learning.
Young children are full of questions about the world they live in: “Can you blow bubbles in Space?” “What’s the Moon made of?” “Why do astronauts float?” – Have you ever wondered how to answer their big questions?
STEM education is 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 online workshops, Little Scientists will introduce the concepts, methods and skills of inquiry-based STEM education 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 components will enrich your repertoire of STEM activities.
INSPIRE SUSTAINABILITY - 15 & 22 February 2022 (2-part online workshop)
Our emphasis will be on behaviour change and practical, real-world examples and projects produced by early childhood services and primary school. Learn how to influence both children and adults in your service or setting to make a real, meaningful difference.
INSPIRE STEM - 30 March & 6 April 2022 (2-part online workshop)
Come and investigate with us the creatures that used to call Australia home and their habitats. From famous fossil sites across Australia to the wombat-like diprotodon and other mega fauna, we will explore practical, hands-on ways of investigating Australia’s findings in the fossil record. We will suggest hands-on investigations and other ways of sparking not only children’s but your own curiosity.
INSPIRE STEM - 2 & 9 June 2022 (2-part online workshop)
Young children are filled with questions about the world they live in: “Why do crabs move sideways?” “How do whales speak to each other?” “Why is snow white but the ocean blue?” – Have you ever wondered how to answer their big questions?
STEM 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.
Upcoming 2021 STEM hour topics
Click link below to jump to webinar details.
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 - 7 September 2021
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, Dr David Taggart, associate professor of wildlife biology and conservation, Elly Hampton, early childhood educator at St Joseph’s Primary School, Kylie Soanes, conservation biologist, Rachel Iglesias, veterinary officer, and Erin Hahn, postdoctoral research fellow at CSIRO, 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 2021
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, our panel will discuss how we can create a world where all children can reach for the stars. Developmental psychologist Dr Christa Spears Brown will fill us in on the latest research on gender bias. Astronomers Shefin Mariya Joju, Dr Clare Kenyon and Dr Sabine Bellstedt will tell us about their experiences in a predominantly male environment, and kindergarten teacher Hayley Drennan will provide examples from her journey towards gender-irrelevant education.
STEM HOUR - 12 November 2021
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, Dr Jessica Allen, chemical engineer, Dr Sue Elliott, senior lecturer in early childhood education, and Sue Motley, director of Armidale Community Preschool, 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 2021
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? Sara Judge, First Nations content producer at the Australian Museum, Dr Jennifer Matthews, marine biologist, and Skye Onuoha, kinder lead educator, 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.