Vancouver Elementary Workshops

Registration for our Summer 2024 season is now open! If you have any questions or concerns feel free to email us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.

 Our classroom workshops are available again for May and June 2024! 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: MAY – JUNE, 2024


  • Available Times:
    9 – 10:15AM, 10:30AM – 12:00PM, 1 – 2:30PM
    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

ELEMENTARY WORKSHOPS

BC Curriculum Ties: All of our workshops meet multiple components of the Applied Design Skills and Technologies and Science Curriculum for K-7. More fun and exciting workshops will be available in May and June!

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!

GRADES: K-3
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Crazy Chemistry

Put on your lab coats and safety goggles because in this workshop we will be doing chemistry! Students will be able to explore chemical processes and their properties through hands-on experiments such as slime!

GRADES: 2-3
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Super Scratch Coding

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!

Please note students will need to have a computer or tablet with internet connection to participate.

GRADES: 4-5
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Super Series: Coders & AI

Welcome to our Scratch Super Series! In the first workshop, students will learn about problem decomposition by building their own game on Scratch! In the second workshop, students will build on their skills, explore different AI machines, and create their own machine that recognizes body poses.

Please note students will need to have a computer with a webcam and internet connection to participate

GRADES: 5-7
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Ecosystems Everywhere

In this workshop, students will learn about the fundamentals of living things and how they interact in ecosystems. They will then explore the basics of plant life by building their very own biodome!

GRADES: K
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Qubits and Bytes

Welcome to the strange world of Quantum Mechanics! Students will learn the difference between classical and quantum computing. They will get a chance to work with binary, a marble-based computer, and learn about a quantum mechanics concept: Superposition!

Please note students will need to have a computer or tablet with internet connection to participate.

GRADES: 6-7
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

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.

GRADES: 2-3
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Electrifying Energy

We promise not to shock you! In this workshop, students will learn about different forms of energy and how it can be transformed and converted. Students will experiment with circuits and create their very own flashlight!

GRADES: 4-5
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Biomechanical Innovators

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field focused on analyzing and designing advanced solutions in biology and medicine. In this workshop, students explore the world of biomedical engineering and will learn the fundamentals of the human body by creating different prosthetics and medicinal projects.

GRADES: 4-5
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

Phenomenal Forces

Whether it’s a rocket flying through the air or a car speeding on the ground, forces are acting on every moving and stationery object and determine how these objects travel and stop. Learn all about forces and explore Newton’s Laws through a variety of thrilling hands-on activities!

GRADES: 6-7
For a full description of this workshop, click here!

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

We are very excited to join your classroom for our in-person workshops! Geering Up instructors will be able to join your classroom for an entire session to guide the class through STEAM workshop(s) of your choice. Instructors will arrive a few minutes before the workshop to set up as well as go over any considerations for your class. Workshops typically are 1-1.5 hours in length and consist of a quick introduction to a STEAM topic and hands-on, inquiry based activities. See the elementary and high school page for more details on specific workshops. Please ensure that there is a way for our instructors to project slides and, for tech based workshops, your students may need a computer/device with internet connection. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email us atworkshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.

This year, we are introducing a two-part series based off of our classic Super Scratch Coding workshop. In this Super Series, students will first learn the basics of block coding by building their own game on Scratch! They will learn to apply concepts of problem decomposition to build strong coding skills. In the second installment, students will build on their skills from the first workshop. They will have the opportunity to explore and use different AI softwares, and build their own machine that recognizes body poses! We will also discuss the applications and importance of AI in different engineering fields.

Our Super Series has a discounted price for workshops of $175 per workshop, for a total of $350 for both workshops. A more detailed price breakdown is available on your invoice. *Travel fees do apply*

1. Why should I bring this into my classroom?

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!

2. Will I need to download any software prior to the workshop to participate?

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!

3. What materials will my class need to participate?

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.

4. What do I need to do to set up for the 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.


Have more questions?
You can reach us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.