Workshops will be led by two Geering Up instructors and consist of exciting, hands-on activities that promote problem-solving and curiosity in STEAM fields. Students of all levels can participate and walk away from the workshop with the tools and knowledge they need to further explore programming, science, and engineering.
Workshop Dates: JANUARY – JUNE 2025
Available Times:
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
We are happy to accommodate your school’s bell schedule.
Cost:
1 Workshop – $195/Workshop
3 Workshops (in the same day) – $175/Workshop
6+ Workshops – $155/Workshop- Lower Mainland*
*If your location is further away from Vancouver, workshop delivery may not be possible. Please email workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca to check eligibility.
ELEMENTARY WORKSHOPS
Check out below all of our offered workshops!
Bikes Build Cities
Join us for a fun, interactive workshop where students explore city planning through bike lanes! Students will design their own city play mat using felt pieces, markers, and toy vehicles. They’ll add bike lanes and other features, learning how urban planning makes cities fun and safe. Perfect for little builders with big imaginations! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: K-1
Brilliant Bots
What differentiates a robot from a machine? Students will learn the importance of giving clear and direct instructions to machines, forming the basis of coding. Students will then use these instructions to guide their own mini Ozobots through a racetrack! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: K-3
Crazy Chem
Put on your lab coats and safety goggles because in this workshop we will be doing chemistry! Students will explore chemical and physical changes, as well as basic principles of chemistry, through fun demos and a hands-on experiment creating slime! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 2-3
Splash into Science
Take a deep dive into the water cycle in this engaging workshop! Students will explore the water cycle’s phases and discover how climate change impacts this vital process and uncover actions we can take to protect our planet. Get ready to make a splash with learning! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 2-3
Micro:Bit Madness
In this workshop, students will program an online mini computer called a Microbit and complete a variety of challenges to use this technology to communicate with their fellow classmates. For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 2-3
Electrifying Energy
We promise not to shock you! In this workshop, students will learn about different forms of energy and how they’re converted! They’ll explore energy by making their very own popsicle flashlight, and a mini motorized robot! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 4-5
Stop the Oil Spill
How do engineers protect our planet? In this interactive workshop, students will explore the chemistry of oil and understand the impact of oil spills on the environment. Using this knowledge, they’ll design and test their own creative solutions for cleaning up oil spills. Join us to see how engineering can help make a positive difference for our Earth! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 4-6
Scratch Coders
Programming is one of the most important skills in today’s society. Through Scratch’s block-based coding, this workshop will introduce students to programming and teach them to make their very own interactive game! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 4-7
Scratch AI
Discover how artificial intelligence is shaping our world! In this exciting workshop, students will dive into the magic of AI using Scratch. They’ll learn to build a smart machine that collects data and recognizes body poses, unlocking a glimpse into the powerful technology that’s transforming industries and everyday life. For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 4-7
Qubits and Bytes
Welcome to the strange world of quantum mechanics! Students will learn the difference between classical and quantum computing, and will get a chance to work with binary, bits, and qubits through a fun, interactive game! For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 6-7
Force Factor
How do forces play a role in our everyday lives? In this workshop, students will explore Newton’s Laws through live demos and apply their knowledge to a design problem in car safety engineering. For a full description of this workshop, click here!
GRADES: 6-7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In-person workshop fees vary depending on how many workshops you choose to sign up for. Please see above for details. To help offset the cost of vehicle rentals and travel time, travel fees apply to all schools outside of Vancouver and range from $20 - $40. We recognize that some schools may be experiencing additional financial difficulties during this time. Should you want to participate but find that cost is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to contact us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.
Our workshops are designed for single classes of up to 30 students. Each of our teams can teach up to three workshops per day, according to the following schedule. We are happy to accommodate the nuances of your school's bell schedule.
Workshop 1: 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Workshop 2: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Workshop 3: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Our scratch workshops are built in a way where they can be delivered as two parts. First, students will learn the basics of block coding on Scratch by building their own game! (workshop: Scratch Coders) In our second installment (Scratch AI), students will build on their skills and will have the opportunity to explore and use different AI software. They will build their own machine that recognizes body poses, while also discussing the applications and importance of AI in different engineering fields.
Please keep in mind we suggest these workshops be booked at least 1 week apart.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
70% of tomorrow's jobs will require STEAM skills, but less than half of high school students graduate with the prerequisite STEAM courses (Skills Competencies Canada). BC's new ADST curriculum heavily integrates computer science and applied science skills to help address that gap. Geering Up workshops aim to help educators satisfy BC's new ADST curriculum by providing their students the opportunity to investigate STEAM in fun, innovative, and hands-on experiments and projects. Our workshops allow students to build future skills, connect with current university undergraduate students, and gain tools, knowledge, and inspiration to explore a future in STEAM!
No! Workshops will not require the downloading of any apps or software. All of the software we use in our workshops are web-based applications that you and your students can access through the internet!
For our in-person workshops materials may include computer or tablet with an internet connection. All other materials will be provided by the Geering Up team. A teacher letter with information about the workshop content and a list of any additional materials needed will be provided in advance of your scheduled workshop.
Please keep an eye out for a teacher letter with information about the workshop content and a list of any additional materials needed. This will be provided after registration, and in advance of your scheduled workshop.
There are two payment options, either via cheque or credit card. Once you've confirmed your workshop, our team will send you an invoice with a link to pay by credit card if you choose to do so, or a mailing address to pay via cheque.
Full payment is due two weeks after your last workshop date. If you have any issues, please reach out to: workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca
Have more questions?
You can reach us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.
