Inspire STEM: Australian fossils, megafauna and dinosaurs
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 megafauna, 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.
What is megafauna? Did mammoths roam Australia? What was in their place? How can we approach meaningful explorations of these big, important topics? How did the climate at the time affect these amazing animals? What Australian dinosaurs have been found so far and what do we know about them?
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 this live online workshop, 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.
Session 1: Explore and Play – Introduction to hands-on, inquiry-based STEM learning and exploration
Date: Wednesday, 30 March 2022
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm AEST
- Overview of early STEM education and inquiry-based learning, focusing on the importance of playfulness and joy as impetuses to scientific discovery and research
- Interactive demonstrations of STEM explorations using items found around the home
- Creating a rich learning environment to stimulate discoveries, enrich STEM learning opportunities and nurture curiosity in children and adults alike
- Discovering everyday phenomena and explanations of basic scientific concepts
- Resourcing STEM activities, learning how to use what you already have for fantastic explorations
Session 2: Play and Reflect – Process to practice
Date: Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm AEST
- Reflection on what has been learned so far, what has worked well and how to overcome challenges
- Learning techniques to find STEM explorations in everyday situations, making STEM accessible to young children
- Discussion of next steps to integrate STEM exploration further in individual circumstances
The sessions are scheduled to run for 1.5 hours each and include a Q&A session. You will be engaged in hands-on activities during both sessions, for which you will receive a materials list in advance.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
