As the SPIRIT project comes to a close, I wanted to write a simple thank you to the teachers of Cyprus. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised this isn’t really about one project. It is about a lifetime. Teachers have been changing my life for as long as I can […]

One of the most valuable parts of the SPIRIT project was working with our Local Communities of Practice and International Communities of Practice. The principle behind them is one I continue to believe in wholeheartedly. Educational innovation should never happen in isolation. If we want to create meaningful resources for teachers, then teachers themselves need […]

First Look: Building Stronger Ideas – The Spaghetti and Marshmallow Pyramid Challenge A team proudly places the final marshmallow on top of their spaghetti pyramid. For a brief moment, it stands. Then, slowly, one side begins to lean. A spaghetti stick snaps. The structure collapses. The children stare at it in silence. Then someone smiles […]

When I first encountered STEAM education, I thought I understood why the A had been added. At least, I thought I did. Like many educators, I understood the theory. Art Εducation brought creativity into STEM. It encouraged innovation, helped students visualise ideas, express their thinking and connect different disciplines. I had even designed activities that […]

The lesson begins with four points on a coordinate grid. Nothing more. Just numbers waiting to be plotted. At first, it doesn’t seem particularly exciting. Children carefully place each point, connect the lines and discover they have created a trapezoid. They measure, calculate, scale and recreate the same shape four times before carefully assembling it […]

Ask a child if they’d like to make ice cream in school, and you’ll almost certainly get an enthusiastic “Yes!” Then tell them they won’t use a machine. Instead, they’ll need ice, salt, careful measuring… and a lot of shaking. Suddenly, a simple treat becomes a scientific investigation. Working in teams, children explore how a […]

Ask a group of children what they know about bubbles, and you’ll probably hear words like fun, play and summer. Ask them a few weeks later, after completing this STEAM project, and their answers may sound very different. They might talk about variables, evidence, fair testing and improving a design. But they might also tell […]

The excitement of the Kinder Egg experiment  you read in the previous article has just settled. Children are still talking about the surprising reaction they witnessed. One question remains on the board: “Can small things create big changes?” This time, instead of baking soda and water, the investigation begins with something much simpler. A handful […]

A group of children gathers around a small plastic capsule. “What do you think will happen?” the teacher asks. Some predict a tiny pop. Others are convinced it will explode high into the air. The capsule is sealed, gently shaken and placed inside a safety tray. Everyone waits. Pop! The room fills with laughter, excitement […]

The question appears on the screen. Four possible answers. One team immediately thinks they know the answer. Another isn’t quite sure. Instead of rushing to respond, someone quietly asks, “Has everyone shared their idea?” The discussion continues. One child changes their mind after hearing a teammate’s reasoning. Another suggests using a lifeline. The final answer […]