STEAM @ academyEX, in collaboration with TENZ

Tuesday 9 December 2025 • 8:30am–3:30pm • academyEX, Khyber Pass (Auckland) For Primary, Intermediate & Junior Secondary teachers.

Spark fresh ideas, roll up your sleeves, and leave with ready-to-teach activities! Join TENZ Kaiārahi and the academyEX team for a high-energy, hands-on STEAM PLD day packed with practical workshops you can take straight back to your classroom. Connect with like-minded kaiako, explore emerging tech in the academyEX Play Lab, and gather resources to kick-start 2026.

Why come?

• Hands-on all day: Make, test, tinker — real STEAM tasks you can reuse tomorrow.
• Four power workshops: Led by TENZ Kaiārahi & council members, practical, classroom-ready.
• Play Lab immersion: Explore academyEX’s interactive tech space and spark new unit ideas.
• Community & kōrero: Connect with colleagues, swap resources, and plan your next steps.
• Take-away pack: Slides, task cards, and links to keep the momentum going.

Who it’s for?

Teachers in Years 1–10 (Primary, Intermediate, and Junior Secondary) looking to build confidence with STEAM and integrate it across the curriculum.

The day in draft so far…….

8:30 Coffee & sign-in
8:45 Welcome & introductions
9:00–10:45 Workshop Sessions 1 & 2 (hands-on STEAM)
10:45–11:15 Morning tea
11:15–1:00 Workshop Sessions 3 & 4 (hands-on STEAM)
1:00–1:45 Lunch
1:45–3:15 academyEX Play Lab (guided explore & build)
3:15–3:30 Wrap-up & connections

Workshop 1: Rongoā Māori: Science Meets Nature
Discover the blend of mātauranga Māori and science in this hands-on workshop where you’ll craft a natural balm using native plants like kawakawa and koromiko. Explore the chemistry, sustainability, and tikanga behind rongoā, then design sustainable packaging using maths and measurement. Take home ideas to bring authentic STEAM learning into your classroom.

Workshop 2: Mastermind a Minibeast
Step into the world of ecosystems and adaptations! Use chatbots to brainstorm ideas and 3D modelling tools to design your own “ultimate” minibeast perfectly adapted to its environment. This workshop connects digital technologies with entomology, biology and design, showcasing how AI can inspire student creativity and scientific thinking.

Workshop 3: Including the A in STEAM.
This is part of an ongoing series of workshops looking at how to spark curiosity and creative thinking in our students.
What does the A look like to you? Project based learning or Inquiry learning?
Unpack the arts in STEAM in this hands-on workshop. Collaboration is essential!

Workshop 4: STEM in the primary classroom
This session is a hands -on workshop based on a popular lesson for Y3 and older. It covers safe use of tools, Mātauranga Māori, history of human communication and the amazing properties of wood.. You will get to create your own purerehua (bullroarer) and then carve your own imagery. You might follow traditional Māori designs or something more personal to you. All wood, tools and safety gear will be provided.

Step into the Play Lab for a hands-on session of experimentation, building and problem-solving. Explore how LEGO® Serious Play® and electric cars can spark creativity, collaboration, and fresh thinking in the classroom. Close out the day in a space where curiosity leads, learning flows, and play sparks fresh ideas. Leave feeling energised, inspired, and reminded that innovation can be both meaningful and fun.

Cost: Only $60 including morning tea and lunch. Places are limited so secure your spot early.

Register: Form: STEAM @ academyEX, in collaboration with TENZ – Google Forms

Scan the QR code or head to:

Questions? Contact kaiaarahi@tenz.org.nz