Our school workshop program offers free STEM and coding workshops for Grades Primary to 12 each year in May and June. Visits for spring 2024 are now available and can be scheduled to take place as early as May 13th. The workshops are designed to be approximately 45 minutes in length, and all include hands-on activities and demonstrations with age-appropriate explanations. We offer two types of workshops per grade level: a science workshop and a coding workshop.
The workshops available, with suggested grade level, are listed below. For questions regarding our school workshop program and to book a visit please contact us by emailing @email
Grade Primary
- Magic (maximum 50 students)
Exploring the wonders of chemistry. - Block Coding Basics (maximum 25 students)
Introduce the basic idea of coding, using language (instructions) that computers/robots understand to have that computer/robot complete a task. Will use Coding Crew and mTiny robots that follow simple commands to complete tasks. Use of coding cards to plan the code and to have a copy of the code so it can be repeated.
Grade 1
- Water (maximum 50 students)
Looking at the nature of water through a series of fun demonstrations and hands-on experiments. - Be Prepared (maximum 25 students)
Introduce the idea of if/then in coding with Botley. Start by using 4 commands (forward, reverse, turn left, turn right) to move a robot around. Use coding cards to plan out a path. How do you deal with something that might happen (something in the way)? Use if/then to plan for obstacles along the way.
Grade 2
- Climate & Environment (maximum 50 students)
This presentation will explore the topics of clime and the environment, and will include hands-on activities and demonstrations. - Cruise with Coding (maximum 25 students)
An introduction to computation thinking with Sphero Indi. Explore how the Sphero Indi reacts when it is placed on and drives over different color blocks. Use this information to complete other tasks.
Grade 3
- Bones (maximum 50 students)
With the help of a full skeleton, X-Chem will explore the types of bones in the body as well as their properties. This presentation includes a hands-on activity about animal bones. - Info on the Go (maximum 25 students)
Use Ozobots to show how computers/robots can get more instruction while already running. Ozobots get instructions from the color of the lines they are following; different combinations will have the Ozobots do different things. Will solve mazes using different colored lines.
Grade 4
- Food Science (maximum 50 students)
Eating healthy is an important concept for children to learn at an early age. This presentation deals with the building blocks of food, such as calories, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. This presentation also includes testing food for fat, sugar, and starch. - Sphero Games (maximum 25 students)
Use different ways of controlling a Sphero Mini robot to play different games.
Grade 5
- Phase Changes (maximum 50 students)
Many children are familiar with the three phases of water, however not many are familiar with the strange and interesting properties of other materials. Students will be engaged in activities that explore the strange and interesting properties of other materials. - Loops/Variables & Shapes (maximum 25 students)
Code the Artie robot to draw shapes on a piece of paper using degrees to make different size turns. Introduce loops to make squares and other shapes. Introduces variables to make spirals.
Grade 6
- Metals (maximum 50 students)
Metals are everywhere! This presentation will guide students through their existing knowledge of common metals and lead them into the exciting and weird world of metals. Topics include: memory metal, mining processes, metals for health, and more! - Loops/Variables & Shapes (maximum 25 students)
Code the Artie robot to draw shapes on a piece of paper using degrees to make different size turns. Introduce loops to make squares and other shapes. Introduces variables to make spirals.
Grade 7-9
- Polymers (Grade 7 - maximum 50 students)
Polymers are extraordinary molecules. It is hard to think what we would do without them! In this presentation students will explore the properties of polymers through a series of engaging demonstrations and hands-on experiments. - Engineering (Grade 8 - maximum 50 students)
Engineers are the built environments problem solvers. This presentation will turn the classroom into multiple engineering firms as students compete to solve a problem as engineers. - Solar System (Grade 7-9 - maximum 25 students)
Use Sphero robots to make a model of the solar system with orbiting planets. Will involve calculating circumference of a circle and the idea of ratios. Note: To do a full solar system close to scale with all eight planets will require a large open room (gym). Can do fewer planets with smaller room, however larger rooms are recommended.
Grade 9-12
- Acids and Bases (maximum 25 students)
Students will test acids and bases and common chemicals. We will talk about weak and strong acids and show how this affects their properties, including conductivity. They will see how dry ice can change the pH of water and discuss this in light of acid rain and the effects of rising carbon dioxide levels on the dissolution of coral reefs. - Electrochemistry (maximum 25 students)
This presentation will discuss galvanic cells and red ox reactions. Students will make batteries and try their hand at electrochemical writing.
