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STEM Playful Learning Workshop
Calling all educators! Are you looking for innovative ways to engage your students in STEM learning? Join us for the Maryville STEM Playful Learning Workshop! This exciting event will explore new and interactive methods for teaching science, technology, engineering, and math to students of all ages. Led by experienced educators and industry experts, this workshop will provide you with practical tips and tools to make STEM learning fun and engaging for your students. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and inspire your students to become the next generation of STEM leaders.
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Date: July 30, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Maryville University Campus in St. Louis, MO
Cost: $25 Includes a light breakfast, lunch, and attendance prizes for ALL!
To grab your seat, click here!
8:30-9:00 Welcome
Light breakfast and Resource Gallery
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9:00-10:20 National Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek is a renowned developmental psychologist, bestselling author, and play advocate. As a professor at Temple University and Senior Fellow at Brookings, she’s spent her career studying how young children learn best — especially through play. She’s advised groups like PBS and Disney Junior and helped shape playful learning spaces around the world. We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek as she shares her groundbreaking research on the power of play in learning!
🕥 10:30–11:25 | Session 1
Tasha Jordan & April Grob
LEGO My Superpower: Building Heroes, Solving Problems
In this playful, hands-on session, participants will create a superhero that reflects their identity, build it using LEGO, and solve a real‑world problem through imaginative design. Blending storytelling, STEM, and creativity, this workshop celebrates self‑expression, problem‑solving, and the power of play in learning and teaching.
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Laura Holt
From Imagination to Innovation: 3D Printing for Every Grade
Empowering students to design, create, and solve real‑world challenges. Discover how 3D printing can bring Missouri Standards and STEM practices to life through hands‑on design challenges. Walk away with ready‑to‑use resources that boost engagement for all grade levels.
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Stacy Donovan
Forensic Science
Dive into the investigative world of science—where critical thinking meets hands‑on experimentation. Participants will explore forensic techniques and witness how science helps solve mysteries in real classrooms.
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Kevin Stanley & Marisa Schafer
Free and Open Source Tools for Teachers
In this breakout session, learn more about the basics and benefits of open source technology, and get hands-on experience with some free and open source tools you can use in the classroom to aid in teaching STEAM topics. Open source tools are cost-effective alternatives to proprietary software, which can significantly and positively enhance classroom learning. They foster collaboration, growth mindset, grit, curiosity, and transparency for educators and learners alike.
🕥 11:30–12:25 | Session 2
Elissa Milto
Novel Engineering
Learn how to merge literature with engineering design to make learning open‑ended and student‑driven. Engage with real book‑based challenges that inspire innovation and collaboration.
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Amber Haven & Patrice Bain
What Happens When Play and Research Combine?
Discover practical, research‑informed strategies that align instruction with how students learn best. Walk away with easy‑to‑implement techniques that bring evidence‑based practices to life—classroom ready for the next school year.
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Patrick Crangle & Laura Holt‑Hovis
Think, Sense, Go! Bringing AI to Life with Motors and Machine Learning
Get hands‑on with programming smart motors that respond to light, movement, and distance. No prior experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore. Made for classroom-ready experimentation in coding, robotics, and AI.
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Kim Berry & Vivi Young
STEM in PreK–2: Where the Magic Happens!
See STEM come alive through play and integrated curriculum in early childhood settings. Discover how young learners apply STEAM thinking to real-life scenarios using creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
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12:30-1:30 Lunch
🕜 1:30–2:30 | Session 3
Lisa Greenstein & Maddy Neil
Map Mats–Playful Adventures with Duplo LEGOs
Use Duplo LEGO® bricks and giant Map Mats to spark creativity across language, math, science, social skills, and more. Perfect for educators and caregivers wanting hands-on, play-based strategies ready for immediate use.
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Allen Samples
Playful Physics: Exploring Forces and Motion with Everyday Materials
Get ready to roll, launch, and bounce your way through force and motion using simple, everyday items. Ideal for educators, students, and families wanting to bring science to life with playful, curiosity-driven activities.
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Becky Lee & Sara Beg
Stop Motion Magic: Create, Capture, Communicate
Bring storytelling to life with Stop Motion Studio Pro. This hands-on workshop explores the app’s features and offers practical tips for integrating stop motion into classroom projects—perfect for visual and creative learners.
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Rachel Parker
The Heart of AI Powered Learning: Using AI to Spark Play & Deeper Thinking
Automaton or Cyborg? Expectations vs reality of using AI tools for playful classroom learning. This workshop will help you identify ways to use AI tools to improve learner engagement and holistic skills development. We will explore your current vs ideal use of AI and how we can bridge the gap. We will use our own experiences to identify ways to deepen learning and impact using an inquiry cycle as our guide.