Space tour blasts off
University workshop gets grant
CHILDREN will have a chance to build their own planets with play-doh as part of University of Southern Queensland’s Building-APlanet travelling workshop.
USQ PhD candidate Jake Clarke will travel to schools through out the Toowoomba region.
Mr Clarke said the workshop was an initiative to engage children from kindergarten to Year 2 in science.
“The workshop is broken down into two parts. In the first part I explain how our solar system works with a funny presentation while the second half will have the children build their own planets out of playdoh,” Mr Clarke said.
“The workshop is very tactile and has been designed to engage children with hands-on learning.
“It’s about finding what the children will find interesting instead of telling them what they should find interesting.”
Mr Clarke said some of the schools listed on the tour include Harlaxton, Wilsonton, Gatton and Flagstone Creek.
USQ was awarded about $10,000 from the Queensland Government’s Engaging Science Grants to deliver the workshop.
Minister for Environment and Science Leeanne Enoch said workshops like this were critical to get more children engaged in STEM subjects.
“It’s so important our youngest learners to connect with science, technology, engineering and maths in new and exciting ways,” Ms Enoch said.
“The passion that USQ astrophysics have for our solar system is infectious, and by peppering workshops with dance, craft and play they’re making it easy for students to fall in love with our universe.”
Mr Clarke said the tour would begin in the current school term and continue next year.
“There are no words to describe the excitement I feel about being given this opportunity,” Mr Clarke said.
“I want to convey to the children that we conduct science every day and it is exciting.”