Ever tried to build something as tall as a child out of just newspaper and masking tape? Or to make a model water slide better than one at a theme park? 

More than 60 families at St Pius Catholic Primary School Enmore have embraced the STEM Family Challenge, adding another dimension to their child’s learning.

The STEM Family Challenge

Each Monday a family is set a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) challenge and given a week to complete it. They are given a kit of minimal materials and a portfolio to record and evaluate how they solve the challenge.

The following Monday they present their work to the school as a family, answering questions about their creations.

How it started

St Pius’ STEM instructional specialist, Maryse Rodrigo, introduced STEM challenges to her Year 2 class in 2019 to cater for their diverse needs. 

“The biggest benefit I’ve seen – and we are a tiny school, so you get to see it quite closely – is that our children are starting to really think outside the box” – Maryse Rodrigo

From the initial spark in Term 1 the STEM challenge grew to incorporate literacy, and students’ reading skills grew in leaps and bounds. 

By Term 2 optional mini challenges were sent home for families to do together. 

By 2020 the whole school became involved.

“I had parents emailing me or pulling me aside in the playground (to ask) ‘My child is interested in STEM, how can I get them involved?’” Mrs Rodrigo said.

What’s involved?

“It could be something like using tape, newspaper and paddle pop sticks to create a famous landmark,” Mrs Rodrigo said. She said every parent and every child said in their evaluation that the best …