STEPS Engineers Week is a week-long festival of nationwide activities celebrating the world of engineering in Ireland. This year it takes place from Saturday 5th to Friday 11th March, 2022.
There are many ways for families to join in the fun from home, with loads of engaging engineering activities available online now and during the festival too. Check out these fun ways for your family to get involved in STEPS Engineers Week 2022.
Fun Family Activities For STEPS Engineers Week 2022
#1. STEM Stories – Reading List
Explore this fantastical world of engineering with the STEM Stories Reading list, themed around engineering and STEM for ages 7-9, 9-12 and Young Adults.
Why not check out your local library to borrow one of these inspiring books?
#2. STEM Stories – Film and Documentary List
Bring engineering to your screens with the STEM Stories Film and Documentary List. Exploring engineering and STEM via recommendations such as the documentary Dream Big: Engineering our World, a heartfelt of human ingenuity, and Hidden Figures, the film based on the inspiring true story of three brilliant African-American women who worked at NASA in the 1950s.
This list includes accompanying educational resources and worksheets to elevate your experience.
#3. Wind Energy Challenge
Learn about engineering and wind energy in this fun challenge, in which children build their own pinwheel (primary level) or wind turbine (secondary level). Both activities include worksheets and full instructions to complete the tasks.
#4. Take the As Creatives Engineering Quiz
Do you have what it takes to get top marks in the STEPS Engineers Quiz? As Creatives has created family-friendly quizzes for primary and secondary school aged children, to explore engineering at home and challenge each other to see who the ultimate engineer is!
Watch the intro short film to learn more about engineering all around you.
#5. Follow the As Creatives Engineering Trail
Engineering is everywhere in your local community and the Engineering Trail which can be accessed digitally, will support families in working together on a range of simple engineering challenges together.
#6. Blended Family Fairs – Online and In-Person Events
On Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March 2022, STEPS Engineers Week Family Fairs will take place across Ireland both in person and online. Tune into or attend engineering shows and live workshops, suitable for the whole family.
A series of in-person, online and blended Family Fairs to inspire Ireland’s future engineers through interactive workshops and spectacular shows will be hosted from Dublin, Munster, Sligo and Galway to kick off STEPS Engineers Week 2022. Join the Engineers Ireland STEPS team in celebrating the world of engineering in Ireland this STEPS Engineers Week.
Engineers Ireland STEPS Family Weekend
Tune in to engineering shows and live workshops, suitable for the whole family.
- Saturday 5 March: In-person shows and workshops taking place in Engineers Ireland, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Join Scientific Sue, Mark the Science Guy and more. (No online events this day).
- Sunday 6 March: Fully Online engineers workshops taking place digitally. Tune into online workshops by The Rediscovery Centre, Science Made Simple, the National Reptile Zoo and Explorium. (No in-person events this day).
Foróige YES! Youth Engineering Programme – Online
- Join Foróige YES! Youth Engineering Programme for an online STEPS Engineers Week Family Day on Saturday 5 March, beaming from Munster.
Institute of Technology Sligo – Blended
- The Sligo Engineering Fair Day will take place at IT Sligo on Sunday 6th March. A blended experience of in-person and online shows, workshops and demonstrations. Join IT Sligo for the entertaining and dangerous, Devastatingly Dramatic Climate Show. Why not Learn how to solder and make a working electronic gadget to take home with you and much more.
NUI Galway – Online
- This year, NUI Galway has prepared some online events and resources that you can enjoy at home! This includes ‘Fantastic DNA at home’ workshops for families on Saturday 5 March.
For information, and to book now, visit the Engineers Ireland Website.
The Engineers Ireland STEPS programme, which promotes engineering and the importance of the profession to children in Ireland, is funded by the Department of Education and Skills and industry leaders ARUP, EPA, ESB, Intel and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
About the Author: Michelle
