STEAM Tea Party
The STEAM Tea Party is meant to introduce families in the Wood Buffalo region to STEAM in a fun and creative way. The goal of the event is to learn about the science of tea and food, and how tea is used in many different cultures for different uses. This event also includes a traditional learning component to introduce attendees to the medicinal uses of tea by Aboriginal peoples in the region.
Target Audience: Families and All Ages
Community Partners: Community Organizations, Friendship Centres
Program Lead: Jennifer Xie (programs@brainstemalliance.com)
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Case Study
The STEAM Tea party sessions were designed to introduce families to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) in a fun and creative way. This event is conducted virtually with the necessary kits assembled by our team and sent out to participants prior to the event, allowing them to fully immerse in the event experience from the comfort of their own home. Inspired by the Indigenous peoples of the Wood Buffalo region, this program adds a unique educational element, teaching participants about the traditional and medicinal uses of tea in Indigenous cultures.
Since its launch in 2019, the STEAM Family Tea program has flourished, offering families a creative and engaging way to explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math). With themes like Space, Earth Day, and Flower/Flour Power, each event brings a new adventure while staying rooted in the shared use of tea and food to introduce STEAM concepts.
Years in Review
2020
Families were introduced to Indigenous tea traditions. Participants engaged in activities like color-changing tea, marshmallow molecules, and sugar cube structures. This event offered a unique blend of cultural learning and hands-on STEAM exploration.
2021
Took on a space theme, with activities like Oreo moon phases and marshmallow constellations, along with Indigenous tea tasting. This event attracted 49 live participants from across Canada and internationally.
2022
The Mother’s Day-themed “Flower/Flour Power” STEAM tea party focused on acid-base tea experiments, flour grinding, and Indigenous plant knowledge. Participants explored both science and culture in this educational, hands-on experience.
2023
The Earth Day-themed STEAM tea party centered around natural processes like marsh molecules and tea fermentation, with a talk from an Indigenous Elder. This event continues to promote cultural awareness and interest in STEAM.