ART MEETS SCIENCE–TEACHING INNOVATION FOR KIDS
By Euphorium
Fifteen kids got super creative during the school holidays for the NextGen Young Sparks Innovation workshops!
Participants use lego to build simple quick prototypes. (Photo credit: Euphorium)
Young Sparks School Holidays Workshop Igniting Creativity in Kids. The successful outcome of the school holiday program has sparked a demand for more programs.
As part of the NextGen Entrepreneur program, a partnership with Social Innovators Pollinators and arts comedy Euphorium led to the development of a series of free STEAM workshops based around learning the design thinking process. These skills were then used to explore solutions for future energy needs and assemble a prototype escape room.
A group of 15 kids explored, tinkered, and problem-solved their way through two days of fun-filled challenges leading to some amazing discoveries.
“The kids really quickly developed the simple skills to solve problems, imagine and implement creative solutions. It was quite remarkable their ability to problem solve in ways that I think adults would be really challenged by” – Ruben Wills, the Creative Development Officer at Euphorium.
Participants build prototypes to solve energy problems through using design skills (Image credit: Euphorium)
The fully-booked classes gave kids the tools to think through big problems and super small ones, to come up with their own energy-themed escape rooms.
“It was amazing to see what the kids devised from everyday objects and their own imagination. They had full permission from us to be as creative as possible. It's not often kids get to unleash that freedom in such a productive way” – Emma Jackson, Learning Lead at Pollinators
The program was hosted by Euphorium and Pollinators team members with a guest speaker from ATCO showcasing their cutting edge hydrogen car as part of the NextGEN Entrepreneurs Competition; a program to introduce school children in Geraldton to the concept of problem-solving and innovating with new improvements or a clever idea to make the world around us a better place.
Tristan from ATCO demonstrates the Hydrogen powered car. (Photo credit: Euphorium)
The theme this year is A future with Green Energy - Solar, Wind and Hydrogen with students learning about the issues and challenges in these areas from industry experts over 4 workshops in term four.
Students are required to create a poster or video of their new innovative idea based on the theme. Finalists from each age category then pitch their idea to a panel of judges to win cash prizes.
*NextGen Entrepreneurs is proudly supported by Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, ATCO, RioTinto, Iluka, NBN Co, Pawsey Data Centre, Market Creations, Champion Bay SHS, Euphorium Creative and Pollinators.