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 to June 2026
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 STEM WORKSHOPS
Check out our 2026 workshop themes!
Crazy Chemistry
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!
Requirements: This can be a messy experiment (slime is very sticky!). We give instructions to students to minimize any mess, but keep in mind it's a possibility.
Wired to Win
From the basics of circuitry to the intricacies of gaming, in this workshop our inner Electric Engineers will rise for a fun challenge. Students will create their own gaming control using miscellaneous materials, with the goal of connecting it to our circuits and successfully playing a computer game. Do you think you are up for the challenge?
Requirements: Laptops are required. If you need us to provide them, please let us know in the registration. If so, we need access to your school’s wifi.
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 learn about the engineering behind car safety. They will then apply their knowledge and test their car bumper designs!
Requirements: N/A
ELEMENTARY CODING WORKSHOPS
We are introducing a new system for coding workshops. Registration will still be through the same survey; however, you can now choose which level of coding workshop you would like for your classroom. We have built three different coding workshops, each with the intention of meeting your students where they are. Please choose according to how familiar the average student in your class is with block coding / Scratch.
How to register: On the registration survey, you will be prompted to select between Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. If you have any questions about this new system, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Suggested grade: 4 - 5
In this workshop, students will learn about problem decomposition. We will go through the basic building blocks of coding, and how to use Scratch! By the end of the workshops, students will have built their own game!
Level: This workshop is built for students who have little to no experience in coding.
Requirements: Laptops or iPads (laptops recommended). Please let us know in your registration if you need us to provide laptops. If so, we need access to your school’s wifi.
Suggested grade: 5 - 6
In this workshop, students will build upon basic coding concepts and explore how coordinates and if/then else statements work in programming. By the end of the workshops, students will have built their own game!
Level: This workshop is built for students who already have some experience in coding. We will briefly revise some Scratch basics and teach students some more intermediate coding concepts (eg. Coordinate planes and points).
Requirements: Laptops or iPads (laptops recommended). Please let us know in your registration if you need us to provide laptops. If so, we need access to your school’s wifi.
Suggested grade: 6 - 7
In this workshop, students will be introduced to the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence! Students will be exposed to multiple different AI software, culminating in students creating their filters/emojis using various poses. Then, apply their knowledge to programming in Scratch!
Level: This workshop is built for students who have plenty of experience with Scratch and are looking to explore some further uses of coding.
Requirements: Laptop WITH webcam for each student. Please let us know in your registration if you need us to provide laptops. If so, we need access to your school’s wifi.
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
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.
