Teachers
Empower yourself to teach STEM with confidence with the Wonder Project – Engineering New Zealand’s free schools programme that’s proven to inspire and engage ākonga.
Our project-based, hands-on learning experiences are NZ Curriculum aligned, easy to deliver, super fun, and completely free for schools. All wonder kaiako get detailed learning material, an incredible high-value challenge kit, industry support, and an unforgettable experience teaching STEM.
How it works
We offer a series of free in-class programmes aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum. Our programmes deliver scaffolded learning and sustained engagement with STEM over a specified school term.
We supply everything you need to have loads of fun with your ākonga – ākonga learning material, detailed lesson plans, a high-value challenge kit, and a volunteer industry ambassador to build confidence along your STEM journey. Challenges are fun, hands-on, engaging and accessible so they resonate with all ākonga, and especially girls, Māori and Pacific Peoples.
All our programmes are free, thanks to our funding partners, and open to any school in Aotearoa. Each one is backed by years of research and refinement and carefully curated to empower rangatahi – so they can achieve remarkable things at school, in their communities, and in their future careers.
"It's a hands-on, fun way to explore the learning areas of STEM. Students had to work through a process to see success. Everyone was so engaged and excited throughout the project."
Rebekah Gage
Teacher - Conifer Grove School
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Register your class online
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Watch videos to prepare
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Get matched with a STEM professional
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Receive free challenge kit and online resources
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Inspire ākonga with the Wonder Project
How much time it takes
For our challenges, you’ll need an hour to meet with your Wonder Project Ambassador before you start running the programme and some time for preparation work. Then, once the programme starts, you'll need to allow 1–2 hours of class time each week for 6–8 weeks. For our STEM Careers programme, talks and workplace visits are provided on an ad hoc basis and running times vary.
How to get your school onboard
If your Principal needs convincing, start by telling them that the Wonder Project is an opportunity to:
- enhance the ākonga experience of the curriculum
- provide engaging project-based learning experiences
- show ākonga that science and maths are fun
- work with industry professionals and upskill
- get young women, Māori and Pacific Peoples interested in STEM
- inspire a new generation of STEM professionals.
Know nothing about STEM?
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with detailed teaching resources that explain everything you need to have a blast teaching STEM. Plus, we’ll do our best to match you with a STEM industry professional to help build your confidence. After our 2023 challenges, over 96% of kaiako said participating increased their confidence teaching STEM – so you’re in good hands.
Working with your ambassador
We endeavour to match all participating classes with a STEM professional who’s an expert in their field. Ambassadors will join your classroom for at least 3 hours across the challenge to build confidence and provide a meaningful source of representation for rangatahi. You’ll need to meet up with them before the challenge to prepare and work out how best to use their time.
We're here to support you
Team Wonder will be in touch with you before, during, and after the challenge, making sure you feel comfortable and supported. We have a dedicated team available to answer your questions Monday to Friday. We also have a Wonder Project Community on Facebook where you can ask questions and get support from a network of STEM professionals.
Resources
The Wonder Project for schools
Print this A4 flyer for a summary of the Wonder Project for schools.
Overview flyer (PDF, 5.7 MB)