The focus of the last coordination meeting in Ravenna was the optimisation of project final products in particular a discussion on the application of the guidelines in the STEAM activity has been developed. Particular attention was paid also to the creation of a common framework for the physical verbs presentation.
The second training course within the project was dedicated to the theory of “physical verbs” using them in the children daily activities as playmates. Thanks to the presentations of prof. Sofie Areljung, teachers had the opportunity to know better theory and practice of this approach.
More than the administrative and monitoring issues, the coordination meeting in Porto was dedicated to the analysis of the activities implemented in different preschools starting from a “spark” received by another project partner through a logbook template. The idea was to analyse the progress from a spark to observation, exploration and action of children in the STEAM framework with recycled or natural materials.
Around 30 teachers and pedagogical coordinators met in Brussels under the coordination of the project partners, Elmer and VBJK, for the first training seminar focused on the five main areas of intervention of the STEAM theory on which partners will work further; namely:
The main objectives of this training was to gain a better comprehension on how to implement a STEAM approach within a pedagogy for very young children, on how to adapt it to the local context and how to document it and reflect on it with other colleagues and preschool staff.
Our main objective is to enhance the educational quality of early child education and care by using natural and arts materials to introduce STEAM topics to very young children.
By exchanging innovative practices, delving into physical phenomena, and promoting STEAM education among very young children.
By exploring the pivotal role of natural materials and arts in ECEC, nurturing specific vocabulary within STEAM domains, and illuminating fresh perspectives on comprehending the world around our young learners.
By bolstering children’s linguistic development and scientific comprehension, encouraging reflection on their learning experiences.
By elevating educators’ skills and competencies, fostering their ability to integrate STEAM methodologies and observe the explorative journeys of very young learners.
By actively engaging families in this process, valuing their crucial role as partners in cultivating a balanced gender approach within STEAM education. Between November 2025 and February 2026, all project partners organised and implemented dissemination events. Many stakeholders have been involved in the events, including universities and research centers, for a total of more than 200 participants in total.
In November 2025, Osmope organised at the Ecola Superior de Educaçao de Porto, a dissemination seminar on the STEAM methodologies proposed in the project with a special focus on inclusion of children with special needs and in a balanced gender perspective. Around 50 students and teachers participated in the activities.
At the beginning of December 2025, Piteå Municipality presented the activities implemented in the Bergsvikens preschool with a specific focus on how children play and explore physical phenomena in the everyday lives. Students and professors of the Luleå University had the opportunity to try the “Steamworks glasses” through which it is possible to interpret children’s actions through STEAM lens.
In February 2026, two dissemination events took place. The first one in Brussels, organised by Elmer and VBJK introducing the theoretical framework proposed in the Steamworks project and exploring the use of green and recycled materials through laboratories in which more than 70 teachers participated in.
The second dissemination event took place in Italy, co-organised by Ravenna municipality and SERN in Imola to introduce the theory come out from the project with a special focus on the relationship with families in exploring STEAM topics. Teachers and pedagogical coordinators, 42 participants, had the opportunity to try the laboratories proposed to Ravenna’s families in participating in laboratories with natural materials.
