International STEAM Workshop
During the last week of January 2026, Experience Workshop had the pleasure of organising a STEAM workshop entitled “From molecules to space bases – structures in nature and technology.” The workshop was conducted by Dr Kristof Fenyvesi and Jukka Lehtoranta from Experience Workshop as a key collaborative exercise during the Erasmus+ student mobility of the Europe 2000 High School from Budapest, Hungary.
The event took place at Mankola school in Jyväskylä and offered students a hands-on experience into the world of geometric design. To make this possible, we introduced the 4D Frame educational modelling kit, a tool that allows young learners to build and test their own structures in a very practical way.
The workshop started with introduction of the world’s largest ice dome, which was built in Finland back in 2014. This led them naturally to the famous geodesic domes designed by Buckminster Fuller. Children learned that these strong, lightweight structures are based on a geometric shape called an icosahedron. From there, we looked for familiar examples of geometry in everyday life. A simple soccer ball, for instance, helped to explore the pentagon shape. Using their new knowledge and the 4D Frame toolkit, the students then constructed their own model balls, which they could later hold, test, and even play with.
Free-time activities
Experience Workshop also coordinated free-time activities for the Hungarian group during their week-long stay. The programme was designed to give the 14 students, along with 3 job-shadowing teachers and 2 accompanying teachers, full experience of Finnish culture and nature.
The group enjoyed a guided city tour of Jyväskylä, with a special focus on the city’s rich educational history. They also got to experience a classic Finnish tradition by the lake, trying out the sauna and, for the brave, rolling in the snow. A nature hike through a Finnish forest allowed everyone to explore the winter landscape, with opportunities to grill over an open fire and even walk on the frozen lake. To round off the cultural experience, the group visited the Aalto2 museum and took part in an interactive quiz, where they could win some sweet Finnish treats. It was a week of learning, exploration, and memorable experiences both in the classroom and out in nature.
Feedback from Participants
“I plan to share my experiences with my colleagues in a workshop. I will also check on new materials to use, especially in teaching English.” Teacher
“Walking on a naturally frozen lake without ice skates was a really memorable experience.” Student
“I learned a bit about Finnish history, architecture, and the people. I also picked up some Finnish words and found it interesting how much attention students pay in class, even though they are free to move around.” Student
“The time with my new Finnish friends is the most important. I learned about their culture and sports, they showed us different Finnish candies, and I had a very good time with them.” Student
Photo credits: Tereza Pruknerová
Would you like to participate in a similar program?
info@experienceworkshop.org
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