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What you will learn in a Water Workshop
Have you ever met a child who was not fascinated by water? From ice blocks to raindrops, children love to explore water. Book into a Little Scientist’s foundational STEM workshop to explore STEM through the vehicle of water and the critical pedagogical topics of co-construction, metacognition, and inquiry-based learning in early education.
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to create rich STEM learning experiences and use water as a topic through which to teach the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework. Interactive activities may include:
- Exploring water with all five senses and investigating its many aggregate states.
- Exploring the density of water by making rainbow layers and “floating” objects.
- Finding out if it’s possible to boil water in balloons and mix (and then unmix!) colour pigments in water.
- Hiding objects within bubbles and making bubble cubes.
- Exploring capillary action with the walking water experiment and watching a stick of celery turn blue.
- Observing the interactions between ice and salt and hydrophobic and hydrophilic objects.
Pedagogical topic: Co-construction, metacognition, & inquiry-based learning
Our Water Workshop is Little Scientists’ foundational workshop and we strongly recommend every educator attend this workshop at one point. This is because the topic of water provides an effective vehicle through which to explore the pillars of the Little Scientists’ educational approach: co-construction, metacognition, and inquiry-based learning. You will learn to:
- Create a co-constructed learning environment by exploring water.
- Investigate the concepts of free exploration, prompted exploration and demonstration and discuss their role in inquiry-based practices.
- Explore your role in a co-constructed environment and practise documenting children’s learning.
- Critically reflect on the challenges and successes in your current STEM practices.
- Understand the important role of inquiry-based learning in early childhood education.
By the end of this workshop, you will be equipped with real-life ideas on how to create a nurturing setting for children to explore STEM in age-appropriate ways.
STEM learning outcomes
This STEM workshop will provide you with the following learning outcomes through the specific lens of water:
- Uncover how early education can foster children’s metacognitive development.
- The confidence to tap into, guide, and focus children’s natural interests and abilities.
- Understand the important role of inquiry-based learning and co-construction in early education.
- Exchange ideas and experiences with other like-minded educators and reflect on your current practice.
- Receive comprehensive topic-specific materials with educational STEM ideas and information about inquiry-based practices.
- Learn how communication, reflection, and questioning can enhance children’s ability to think about their own learning.
- The confidence to pass on your new knowledge and skills to your colleagues and to become a STEM champion in your service.
Who should do this course?
This workshop is designed for all early childhood educators and teachers, as well as educators with managerial responsibilities. No prior STEM knowledge required.
Something to think about before the workshop:
- How much guidance do I provide when exploring with children?
- How do I feel about STEM?
Explore more in-person STEM workshop topics:
STEM in-service PD
Don’t see a workshop near you? Book an in-service workshop to immerse your team in hands-on inquiry-based STEM learning without leaving your service.
- Aligns with the EYLF, NQF, and APST.
- NESA-accredited.
- Hands-on and interactive.
- Uses low-cost, everyday items.
- Provides opportunities to exchange with like-minded people.
- Contains practical and reflective phases.
- Supported by the Australian Government.
