Every student has the potential to be excited about science—it’s just a matter of finding what sparks their curiosity. This workshop focuses on effective strategies for identifying students’ scientific interests and rekindling their enthusiasm for learning. By making science more personal, relevant, and engaging, educators can inspire students to see themselves as active participants in the world of discovery. In this session, we will explore practical techniques for uncovering students’ hidden passions, using interactive activities, inquiry-based learning, and real-world applications. Participants will learn how to tailor lessons to individual interests, integrate student-driven projects, and create a classroom culture that nurtures curiosity and engagement.
Through hands-on demonstrations and case studies, we will showcase fun, adaptable methods to connect students with different fields of science—whether it’s physics, biology, chemistry, or environmental studies.
Educators will also gain insights into how to foster resilience in students who may have disengaged from STEM subjects, helping them rediscover their confidence and love for learning.
By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a toolkit of creative strategies to make science more meaningful and inspiring for every student, regardless of background or ability.
In this workshop, we will delve into how to make a personalised local curriculum for your school. We will explore how your local area and its resources can be used as a catalyst and inspiration for curriculum development. We will work with you to incorporate your cultural narrative including tangata whenua, European settlement, other cultural stories as well as geographical aspects. This creates a curriculum that is unique to your kura and community and encompasses the amazing opportunities and connections you have locally. You will work with Bianca, an Enviro Science Teacher, who has developed local curriculums in partnership with many schools in Aotearoa.
Part of a series of immersive workshops set in the zoo, combining exploration, observation, and discussion to bring evolutionary concepts to life. Highlights: Explore phenomena like mimicry, trade-offs, and the role of sexual selection through observation-based activities. Prerequisite: A foundational understanding of natural selection. Takeaways: Fresh ways to integrate advanced evolutionary concepts into your curriculum. Our ‘Zoo’ workshops are for Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch Zoo’s. Registration payment includes zoo entry. For all workshops, participants will meet Hagar at the Zoo entrance. You can register for any ‘zoo’ workshop via the Christchurch, Kapiti, Taupo, Rotorua, North Auckland, Central Auckland or South Auckland Flexi Conference venues.
Part of a series of immersive workshops based on the theme “Science in the Kitchen’, combining exploration, observation, and discussion to bring Nature of Science concepts to life. Transform jam-making into a hands-on exploration of chemical and biological phenomena. Highlights: Conduct investigations into the roles of osmosis, pectin interactions, and microbial spoilage in food preservation. Design and test hypotheses in a culinary context, linking everyday processes to core scientific concepts. Takeaways: Tools for creating inquiry-based experiments that integrate the scientific method into biology and chemistry curricula. Practical activities that engage students in data collection, analysis, and presentation while fostering curiosity about everyday science.
Mara kai is usually defined as vegetable gardening but it can extend out into wild foods. We will visit sites of traditional gardens and look at the reasons these places were chosen. It may be of interest that several of these sites are on or near schools. We will go to remnant forest to learn about edible berries, drupes and other parts of plants. And look at how Maori use whakapapa relationships between all life for nutrition and sustainability.
This simple and enjoyable field trip takes us to locations along a local river. We will observe and compare the size and shape of boulders and pebbles that are eroding as they make their passage from mountains to sea. This is a great activity as it is conceptually easy to grasp but leads to many questions about landscapes, erosion, river flow, weather, different rock types and the rock cycle.
Learn how easy it is to use nature to support curriculum learning and well-being in your school green-spaces. In this experience, you’ll learn how to use nature as your classroom and co-teacher to integrate almost all curriculum areas and support wellbeing (yours and your learners). You’ll walk away with the knowledge, skills, confidence and a resource kit so you can start immediately. Our focus will be on integrating literacy, science, social science and supporting hauora through nature connection, plant identification and uses and seasonal wisdom – we’ll connect, make and create with and in nature.
Understanding river health using a SHMAK kit (or similar) and visual health assessment, and the implications for the environment. Workshop would be undertaken on-site, with a reflection back inside at the end, to summarise findings.
We will consider abiotic factors (temperature, reach dimensions, clarity, nitrogen), and biotic factors (invertebrates). This incorporates fair testing, as well as photos, measurements and tallies.
In this workshop you will learn how to engage students in the learning of science in real-world contexts relevant to our learners. The team-based, student-centred approach with opportunities for creativity, innovation, and the use of higher-order thinking. There are numerous examples: Sport Science “How does physics impact your chosen sport or recreation?’ “How does the human body adapt to perform at a higher level?”’. “ How does a formula one team/rowing team etc try to ensure a podium finish?’ Snorkelling “The protection of New Zealand’s many unique species is very important for the worlds Biodiversity. Why is this and how are we doing? Kayaking “Why should we try and help restore the Mangroves on the New Island?”
Join Phillip Robinson, “The Tsunami Guy,” for an engaging and action-packed workshop designed to boost awareness of tsunami hazards and preparedness. Through hands-on classroom activities, students will learn best practices for earthquake and tsunami resilience, including the life-saving “Drop, Cover, Hold” and “Long or Strong, Get Gone” messages. Phil will guide your school in planning and conducting a successful practice Tsunami Evacuation Hikoi, helping students map the local area, read hazard maps, and plan evacuation routes.
This program inspires critical thinking about preparedness at school and home, fostering resilience across the entire community. A must for any school in a coastal region!
Puppets have a unique ability to break through barriers to learning.
Puppets allow the operator to step ‘outside themselves’ because the ‘performance’ transfers to the puppet.
Interactions between students and educators using puppets are neutral and non-threatening. This allows students to ask questions and say things they might never normally say to a teacher.
Puppets are incredibly versatile, allowing people who don’t normally have confidence to feel at ease, and allowing humour into normally dry situations. A great way to enhance the learning and retention of information.
Richard has created many hand puppets, string-controlled marionettes, finger puppets, full-body animal costumes and character hats. Join Richard de Hamel in a practical session where we will all make a puppet to take away and discuss and try out a variety of puppet styles.
Check out one of Richard’s presentations here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Np7_k_sWw
Explore the fascinating relationship between plants and their environment with Ruud Kleinpaste in his workshop, “How to Murder Your Plants More Slowly.” Perfect for schools with gardens or access to natural plant areas, this session dives into the challenges plants face from pests and diseases. Learn how these factors influence plant health and discover practical strategies to slow their impact. With Ruud’s signature wit and expertise, this workshop offers valuable insights for educators and students alike, fostering a deeper understanding of plant care and sustainable gardening practices.
An engaging workshop, run by Apiculture extraordinaire Sarah C, where we dive deep into the fascinating lives of honeybees and their crucial role in pollination. Participants will learn about the biology of honeybees, their impact on our ecosystems, and the challenges they face today. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and expert insights, you’ll discover how you can contribute to bee conservation efforts and promote biodiversity in your community. Whether you’re a beginner or a bee enthusiast, this workshop will inspire you to appreciate these vital pollinators and take action to protect them.
Antarctica is a unique natural laboratory that helps us understand the Earth’s climate, ocean systems, and the impact of human activity. This remote and hostile environment directly affects Aotearoa. Demystify climate science and oceanography through engaging practical activities and see how scientists work and live in Antarctica. Let Antarctica inspire you and your students to take action to reduce climate change.
A Hands-On Learning Experience for Educators. In survival scenarios, you’re rarely alone, and this creates both unique challenges and valuable opportunities for growth. Join us for an immersive team-building experience where you’ll collaborate to create a shelter using only the natural resources provided (a perfect way to bring your local curriculum to life!). This challenge will spark your creativity, deepen your collaboration, and add a fun, slightly competitive edge! Protection is a top priority in wilderness survival, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. While people are naturally inclined to work together, identifying your role within a team dynamic can be tricky. In this experience, you’ll discover how to leverage everyone’s strengths, navigate differences, and find common ground to achieve your goals—skills that are just as valuable in the classroom. The key competencies of Managing Self, Relating to Others, and Participating and Contributing will be at the forefront of this experiential learning activity. This experience will not only help you build practical survival skills, but will also strengthen your resilience, communication, and problem-solving abilities as kaiako — skills that are essential for supporting your ākonga in developing their own teamwork and resilience, both in and out of the classroom. As you reflect on how to work together effectively, you’ll gain strategies to help your students: Enhance their ability to collaborate and work with others. Notice, recognize, and respond to the diverse needs and learning styles of ākonga Foster whanaungatanga—the building and maintaining of meaningful relationships that create a sense of belonging, shared responsibility, and support within the learning community. By the end of this experience, you’ll walk away with practical skills and valuable insights you can immediately apply to your teaching practice, helping your students not only survive, but thrive, both in school and in life.
This workshop will introduce participants to identifying the use of science in the court of law. We will discuss the legal system’s reliance on forensic science evidence in criminal cases and the admissibility of forensic evidence including discussing stated cases like the Baines, Crewe and Sounds Murders. Using fingerprint and DNA science within the court system over the years.
This workshop will examine the atmospheric column on Venus, Earth and Mars and how energy is moved around the atmospheres of these planets and the impact this has on the surface. We will also look at the movement of energy in the Sun and how this radiates out to the planets. The workshop will cover concepts such as pressure, heat transfer, the electromagnetic spectrum and gravity. It will be mainly based inside but we will observe the Sun through a Solar Telescope and make observations of sunspots and other prominent solar features. We will also look at an experiment to measure total solar flux (depending on the weather).
In this workshop, we will delve into how to make a personalised local curriculum for your school. We will explore how your local area and its resources can be used as a catalyst and inspiration for curriculum development. We will work with you to incorporate your cultural narrative including tangata whenua, European settlement, other cultural stories as well as geographical aspects. This creates a curriculum that is unique to your kura and community and encompasses the amazing opportunities and connections you have locally. You will work with Bianca, an Enviro Science Teacher, who has developed local curriculums in partnership with many schools in Aotearoa.
In this experience, you’ll walk (and swim) through the steps of sharing the wonderful world of the rocky shore with your ākonga.
From marine identification, snorkeling safety and how too, to practice of snorkel surveying in a secure environment. You’ll walk away with the knowledge, skills, experience and a full unit plan with resources to help get you started right away.
You will cover things like: Using the learning cycle. Create a big driving question, with success criteria based on the NZC outcomes. Use learning outcomes from various strands of the curriculum. gathering knowledge (GK): From the field based or other activity and other knowledge needed. Apply the GK to answer the Big Question (this is where thinking skills comes in (Biggs Solo Taxonomy) Take action: Present in any way the students want to use. What will you get to use: You will walk away with ready to use resources for any adventures your students may want to experience. More examples my YouTube channel: Handle @problit
An engaging workshop, run by Apiculture extraordinaire Sarah C, where we dive deep into the fascinating lives of honeybees and their crucial role in pollination. Participants will learn about the biology of honeybees, their impact on our ecosystems, and the challenges they face today. Through interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and expert insights, you’ll discover how you can contribute to bee conservation efforts and promote biodiversity in your community. Whether you’re a beginner or a bee enthusiast, this workshop will inspire you to appreciate these vital pollinators and take action to protect them.
