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The STEM TryFive+ empowers students and teachers through hands-on STEM learning, innovative workshops, and inclusive resources that bridge classroom concepts with real-world applications. Designed to tackle barriers like time constraints and lack of materials, the program fosters curiosity and confidence, inspiring young learners to explore STEM at school, home, and beyond. By promoting diversity and challenging stereotypes, it ensures STEM is for everyone, while strong partnerships with teachers, schools, and families build lasting connections and a sense of belonging.

11

Participating DEIS Schools 

 Including 8 mixed-gender, 1 girls-only, and 2 boys-only schools, with engagement across multiple class levels.

451+

Students Engaged

Comprising 54.1% boys and 45.9% girls from diverse socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

90+

Workshops Delivered

Workshops focused on space and space exploration were integrated across five curriculum subjects, designed to enhance STEM engagement and curiosity.

Empowering Students and Teachers

  1. Direct Engagement:

    • By June 2025, 451 students from 11 DEIS schools actively participated in hands-on STEM workshops. The program continued to prioritize gender inclusivity with a near-equal participation of boys and girls.
    • A total of 90+ curriculum-linked workshops were delivered, including immersive sessions held at Grangegorman. These practical experiences strengthened student learning by connecting classroom concepts with real-world STEM applications.

  2. Addressing Barriers in STEM Education:

    • Workshops were designed to tackle challenges highlighted by teachers, such as time constraints, lack of confidence, and insufficient materials.
    • Custom-built practical workshops aligned with the Irish primary school curriculum and provided all materials, allowing students to keep their creations and continue their STEM exploration at home.

  3. Innovative Curriculum and Resources:

    • Workshops combined science, engineering, and art to maximize engagement and foster spatial skills development.
    • Activity booklets with visual instructions catered to diverse learners, including ESL students, ensuring broader accessibility and extended learning opportunities.

Fostering Inclusivity and Challenging Stereotypes

  1. Promoting Diversity in STEM:

    • Activities highlighted the achievements of female and POC STEM professionals, sparking discussions about visibility and representation.
    • A poster contest for International Women’s Day celebrated diverse STEM role models, encouraging students to see themselves in STEM careers.

  2. Diverse Facilitation:

    • A team of facilitators from varied backgrounds reinforced the message that STEM is for everyone, challenging stereotypes and promoting inclusivity.

Strengthening Community and Family Connections

  1. Guardian Engagement:

    • Parents participated through science fairs and showcases where students presented their work.
    • The program culminated in a STEM and Try Five Showcase during the Revealing Grangegorman event, welcoming families to experience STEM activities together on campus.

  2. Building Relationships:

    • Open and ongoing communication with teachers and schools created a positive and adaptive environment.
    • This partnership encouraged greater participation in university engagement activities, fostering a sense of belonging for students and their families.

Real-World Connections and Lifelong Impact

By integrating space exploration as a unifying theme, the workshops connected classroom activities with real-world STEM applications, inspiring students to dream big. Practical projects like building terrariums, wind turbines, and air-pressure rockets introduced them to sustainability, renewable energy, and scientific inquiry, planting seeds for lifelong curiosity and learning.

Continuing the Journey

The DEIS Schools Workshop Program has not only deepened students’ interest in STEM but also strengthened relationships between schools, teachers, parents, and TU Dublin. Together, we are creating a future where STEM is accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for all.

Join us in our mission to shape tomorrow’s innovators today.