Starting off students in STEM in the early years can make such a difference to their perceptions of STEM n their later schooling years. In this episode, we chat with Fiona Morrison who is a passionate advocate of early years STEM and whom shares with us some great ideas for using Minecraft, Beebots and more as tools for connecting students to big concepts.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

About Fiona Morrison

Fiona Morrison is an Infants Teacher and Digital Literacy Coach in an independent school in South Sydney. She has been working with children in various contexts for the last 13 years, including in child care and OOSH. Fiona graduated with Honours in 2014, and is currently studying her Masters of Educational Leadership. She is passionate about STEM in the early years, engaging children’s curiosities and imaginations, and building student’s enjoyment of learning. You can find Fiona on Twitter @FiMorrison2 or on Instagram @teachwithmrsm


About the FizzicsEd Podcast

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!

https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/

Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 

Share it!

The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON )

http://www.aeon.net.au/

Starting off students in STEM in the early years can make such a difference to their perceptions of STEM n their later schooling years. In this episode, we chat with Fiona Morrison who is a passionate advocate of early years STEM and whom shares with us some great ideas for using Minecraft, Beebots and more as tools for connecting students to big concepts.
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
About Fiona Morrison
Fiona Morrison is an Infants Teacher and Digital Literacy Coach in an independent school in South Sydney. She has been working with children in various contexts for the last 13 years, including in child care and OOSH. Fiona graduated with Honours in 2014, and is currently studying her Masters of Educational Leadership. She is passionate about STEM in the early years, engaging children&rsquo;s curiosities and imaginations, and building student&rsquo;s enjoyment of learning. You can find Fiona on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/fimorrison2">@FiMorrison2</a> or on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teachwithmrsm/">@teachwithmrsm</a> <a href="https://www.cmnh.org/learn/summer-camps" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cmnh.org/learn/summer-camps&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1593215067784000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEoZRKoUJHC8U4s_coTkms45UsFgQ"></a>
About the FizzicsEd Podcast
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice &amp; pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas &amp; challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!
<a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/</a>
Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode?&nbsp;
Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network&nbsp;(AEON ) <a href="http://www.aeon.net.au/">http://www.aeon.net.au/</a>

For educators and teachers working to make STEM amazing... no matter whether you're teaching science in grade 1, running a high school lab or delivering science shows in a museum, this education show helps you teach science & technology the way kids want to learn. The FizzicsEd Podcast brings in educators from across Australia and around the world to talk about tips, tricks, lessons and learnings they've had whilst working with students in the classroom and beyond. Hosted by Ben Newsome, a science teacher, author and founder of the multi-award winning science outreach team at Fizzics Education.

The FizzicsEd Podcast

For educators wanting to make STEM awesome! No matter whether you're teaching science in grade 1, running a high school lab or delivering  science shows in a museum, this show helps you teach science & technology the way kids want to learn.

The FizzicsEd Podcast brings in educators from across Australia and around the world to talk about tips, tricks, lessons and learnings they've had whilst working with students in the classroom and beyond. Hosted by Ben Newsome, a science teacher, author and founder of the multi-award winning science outreach team at Fizzics Education.

STEM in the Early Years with Fiona Morrison

The Ocean Lovers Festival is Australia’s largest annual cultural and science celebration for the ocean. Hear from founder Anita Kolni as we discuss the education opportunities available through the pitching contest Fish Tank as well as Litterarty and the Sea Science Student Expo.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

About the Ocean Lovers Festival

The Ocean Lovers Festival taps into Australians love of their ocean lifestyle with the largest dedicated ocean science and cultural celebration in Australia. Through a festival of Ideas, Art + Music and Actions, the Ocean Lovers Fesitval inspire and engage the community on ocean issues and provide hope by showcasing solutions and innovation that are improving the health of the ocean. 

The festival has hosted hundreds of expert speakers, artists, innovators, ocean pioneers, and champions. It showcases successful marine projects that restore coastal ecology, highlights ocean- innovating entrepreneurs, and provides a platform for government initiatives, marine scientists, and community groups to inspire and empower audiences to better protect the ocean.

https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/

About Anita Kolni

Anita Kolni is a passionate changemaker, communicator, and connector. She is the Founder of the Ocean Lovers Festival, an annual celebration of ideas, art, music, and actions showcasing the latest innovations, science, state-of-the-art technology, and cool ideas for helping the ocean.

Anita successfully staged the first Ocean Lovers Festival in April 2019 at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. In a short time, it hasg rown into Australia’s largest annual
cultural and science celebration for the ocean, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and achieving a digital media reach of over 34 million. 

Anita is rapidly gaining recognition as a global connector in the ocean sector for her innovative approach of bringing inspiration and hope for the ocean and engaging audiences to accelerate change that positively impacts our blue planet. She championed the Sydney Coast Hope Spot at the inaugural Ocean Lovers Festival with the support of Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance, recognizing Sydney’s cherished coastline on the international stage.

Anita's ocean passion stems from her Swedish Olympic sailing father and uncle and her own love of all things beach and ocean. She has worked on major events like the Grand Prix and ATP Tennis Tournament in Europe before settling back in Bondi with her family of four children, inspiring her to create the festival and do her part in protecting the ocean for their future.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!

https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/

Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 

Share it!

The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON )

http://www.aeon.net.au/

The Ocean Lovers Festival is Australia’s largest annual cultural and science celebration for the ocean. Hear from founder Anita Kolni as we discuss the education opportunities available through the pitching contest Fish Tank as well as Litterarty and the Sea Science Student Expo.
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
About the Ocean Lovers Festival
The Ocean Lovers Festival taps into Australians love of their ocean lifestyle with the largest dedicated ocean science and cultural celebration in Australia. Through a festival of Ideas, Art + Music and Actions, the Ocean Lovers Fesitval inspire and engage the community on ocean issues and provide hope by showcasing solutions and innovation that are improving the health of the ocean.  The festival has hosted hundreds of expert speakers, artists, innovators, ocean pioneers, and champions. It showcases successful marine projects that restore coastal ecology, highlights ocean- innovating entrepreneurs, and provides a platform for government initiatives, marine scientists, and community groups to inspire and empower audiences to better protect the ocean.
<a href="https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/">https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/</a>
About Anita Kolni
Anita Kolni is a passionate changemaker, communicator, and connector. She is the Founder of the Ocean Lovers Festival, an annual celebration of ideas, art, music, and actions showcasing the latest innovations, science, state-of-the-art technology, and cool ideas for helping the ocean. Anita successfully staged the first Ocean Lovers Festival in April 2019 at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach. In a short time, it hasg rown into Australia’s largest annual cultural and science celebration for the ocean, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and achieving a digital media reach of over 34 million. 
Anita is rapidly gaining recognition as a global connector in the ocean sector for her innovative approach of bringing inspiration and hope for the ocean and engaging audiences to accelerate change that positively impacts our blue planet. She championed the Sydney Coast Hope Spot at the inaugural Ocean Lovers Festival with the support of Mission Blue and the Sylvia Earle Alliance, recognizing Sydney’s cherished coastline on the international stage. Anita's ocean passion stems from her Swedish Olympic sailing father and uncle and her own love of all things beach and ocean. She has worked on major events like the Grand Prix and ATP Tennis Tournament in Europe before settling back in Bondi with her family of four children, inspiring her to create the festival and do her part in protecting the ocean for their future.
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice &amp; pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas &amp; challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!
<a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/</a>
Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 
Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) <a href="http://www.aeon.net.au/">http://www.aeon.net.au/</a>

Fish Tank & the Ocean Lovers Festival

Meet Ehab Gerges, a multi-award-winning STEM educator who loves working with his students on sustainability, flight & vehicle challenges and so much more. He shares his ideas for engaging students and how he has built his STEM space in his school.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

About Ehab Gerges

Ehab Gerges is a dedicated educator currently pursuing a Masters of STEM Education at the University of Canberra. With diverse qualifications in Business Management and Electrical Engineering, alongside teaching certifications, he is accredited by the Department of Education to teach Science, Chemistry, and Physics.

Ehab's commitment to professional growth is highlighted through achievements like being accredited as a STEM Educational Instructor by STEM.Org USA, becoming a Microsoft Global Certified Educator, and receiving the Toyota Community Trust & Public Education Foundation STEM Teachers Scholarship in 2023. His dynamic career includes roles as STEM Coordinator and Senior Science Teacher at James Cook Boys’ Technology High School, with notable contributions to sustainability projects and STEM conferences. Recognised with the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales “World Teachers’ Recognition Award” in 2020, Ehab embodies excellence in education.

Connect with Ehab here

Recommended STEM resources
STEM Resources on Code.org
NSW Department of Education: iSTEM Resources
Grok Academy: Coding and STEM Education
FIRST Australia: Robotics & STEM Learning
https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/35888/bridge-building
https://certified.stem.org/users/password/new
https://www.arduino.cc/
https://studio.code.org/teacher_dashboard/sections/5400230
https://arcade.makecode.com/
https://www.lego.com/en-au/themes/mindstorms/learntoprogram
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/ideal-gas/latest/ideal-gas.html?simulation=reversible-reactions
https://www.minecraft.net/en-us
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!

https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/

Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 

Share it!

The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON )

http://www.aeon.net.au/

Meet Ehab Gerges, a multi-award-winning STEM educator who loves working with his students on sustainability, flight &amp; vehicle challenges and so much more. He shares his ideas for engaging students and how he has built his STEM space in his school.
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
About Ehab Gerges
Ehab Gerges is a dedicated educator currently pursuing a Masters of STEM Education at the University of Canberra. With diverse qualifications in Business Management and Electrical Engineering, alongside teaching certifications, he is accredited by the Department of Education to teach Science, Chemistry, and Physics.
Ehab's commitment to professional growth is highlighted through achievements like being accredited as a STEM Educational Instructor by STEM.Org USA, becoming a Microsoft Global Certified Educator, and receiving the Toyota Community Trust &amp; Public Education Foundation STEM Teachers Scholarship in 2023. His dynamic career includes roles as STEM Coordinator and Senior Science Teacher at James Cook Boys’ Technology High School, with notable contributions to sustainability projects and STEM conferences. Recognised with the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales “World Teachers’ Recognition Award” in 2020, Ehab embodies excellence in education.
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehab-gerges-b2aab042/">Connect with Ehab here</a>
Recommended STEM resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://code.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://code.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3IEr5iFdRINyH8n7CBLBOU">STEM Resources on Code.org</a></li>
<li><a href="https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/department-approved-courses/istem#/asset1">NSW Department of Education: iSTEM Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="https://grokacademy.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://grokacademy.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ZVhkpEBhXYV50IDmq3fvz">Grok Academy: Coding and STEM Education</a></li>
<li><a href="https://firstaustralia.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://firstaustralia.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2JxWN9MyK3d0aCLaRX-Cw2">FIRST Australia: Robotics &amp; STEM Learning</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/35888/bridge-building" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/35888/bridge-building&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pjV3qyD6pogsTO37XV9JR">https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/35888/bridge-building</a></li>
<li><a href="https://certified.stem.org/users/password/new" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://certified.stem.org/users/password/new&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1WahElZq3qGoEvtsyyyGor">https://certified.stem.org/users/password/new</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.arduino.cc/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.arduino.cc/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3CY3DI3QSecSmBgwrsz-z1">https://www.arduino.cc/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://studio.code.org/teacher_dashboard/sections/5400230" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://studio.code.org/teacher_dashboard/sections/5400230&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2oVCaaXiLLJdWWylLJadbB">https://studio.code.org/teacher_dashboard/sections/5400230</a></li>
<li><a href="https://arcade.makecode.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://arcade.makecode.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1IWttuoIuMgalr3V9hwBsZ">https://arcade.makecode.com/</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lego.com/en-au/themes/mindstorms/learntoprogram" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.lego.com/en-au/themes/mindstorms/learntoprogram&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw05MUpcvYFO1a5MELP0R566">https://www.lego.com/en-au/themes/mindstorms/learntoprogram</a></li>
<li><a href="https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/ideal-gas/latest/ideal-gas.html?simulation=reversible-reactions" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/ideal-gas/latest/ideal-gas.html?simulation%3Dreversible-reactions&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3n7mXAyO4nznFkrPiTs-FC">https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/ideal-gas/latest/ideal-gas.html?simulation=reversible-reactions</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.minecraft.net/en-us&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2czhryKdQve3xALx8RDtpK">https://www.minecraft.net/en-us</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726094667943000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3qkPwQ8_ZdZb1l_hKqWQ4e">https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize</a></li>
</ul>
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice &amp; pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas &amp; challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!
<a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/</a>
Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 
Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) <a href="http://www.aeon.net.au/">http://www.aeon.net.au/</a>

STEM Education with Ehab Gerges

Food security - it's important! So is teaching students to be self-sufficient on how to grow their own nutritious food. Today we hang out with Food Ladder's founding CEO Kelly McJannett to learn how Food Ladder is addressing food security in remote and Indigenous communities.

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

About Food Ladder

Food Ladder grew from a kernel of an idea by founders Alex Shead and Kelly McJannett.

Alex was determined to use business to create social change. As a social change specialist, Kelly saw kids struggling to concentrate in class because they were hungry and understood the macro impact of food security. By joining forces, they found a way to combine agricultural technology and teaching systems to create lasting social change.

From the first greenhouse installation, both realised this was a powerful way to reframe food choices for the next generation.

About Kelly McJannett

Kelly McJannett is founding CEO of award-winning non-profit Food Ladder which addresses food security in remote and Indigenous communities as well as education, health and economic participation with a holistic focus on wellbeing.

An experienced leader in multidisciplinary approaches to social change, Kelly has pioneered scalable place-based agritech solutions which address immediate human needs, support environmental outcomes and ready vulnerable communities for worsening conditions resulting from climate change.  

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Communications (UTS) and an MBA (The University of Sydney Business School) where she was awarded Social Justice and Community Leadership Scholarship.

Accolades include Sydney University Dean’s Prize and Leadership Excellence Award as well as named Australia’s 100 most Influential Women by Australian Financial Review. Kelly is a member of the Board of Advice for The University of Sydney Business School.

Find out more
https://foodladder.org/

Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education

With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!

https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/

Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 

Share it!

The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON )

http://www.aeon.net.au/

Food security - it's important! So is teaching students to be self-sufficient on how to grow their own nutritious food. Today we hang out with Food Ladder's founding CEO Kelly McJannett to learn how Food Ladder is addressing food security in remote and Indigenous communities.
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
About Food Ladder
<a href="https://foodladder.org/">Food Ladder</a> grew from a kernel of an idea by founders Alex Shead and Kelly McJannett.
Alex was determined to use business to create social change. As a social change specialist, Kelly saw kids struggling to concentrate in class because they were hungry and understood the macro impact of food security. By joining forces, they found a way to combine agricultural technology and teaching systems to create lasting social change.
From the first greenhouse installation, both realised this was a powerful way to reframe food choices for the next generation.
About Kelly McJannett
Kelly McJannett is founding CEO of award-winning non-profit Food Ladder which addresses food security in remote and Indigenous communities as well as education, health and economic participation with a holistic focus on wellbeing.
An experienced leader in multidisciplinary approaches to social change, Kelly has pioneered scalable place-based agritech solutions which address immediate human needs, support environmental outcomes and ready vulnerable communities for worsening conditions resulting from climate change.  
Kelly holds a Bachelor of Communications (UTS) and an MBA (The University of Sydney Business School) where she was awarded Social Justice and Community Leadership Scholarship.
Accolades include Sydney University Dean’s Prize and Leadership Excellence Award as well as named Australia’s 100 most Influential Women by Australian Financial Review. Kelly is a member of the Board of Advice for The University of Sydney Business School.
Find out more
<ul>
<li><a href="https://foodladder.org/">https://foodladder.org/</a></li>
</ul>
Hosted by <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/team/ben-newsome/">Ben Newsome</a> from <a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">Fizzics Education</a>
With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice &amp; pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas &amp; challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world!
<a href="https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/">https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/</a>
Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? 
Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) <a href="http://www.aeon.net.au/">http://www.aeon.net.au/</a>

STEM in the Early Years with Fiona Morrison

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