Abstract:

This experience involves an initiative aimed at awakening and promoting scientific vocations in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM disciplines) among children in Preschool Education and Primary Education, aged between 4 and 9 years old. To this end, several workshops linked to different research projects in the field of civil engineering and materials science have been developed, with the aim of introducing children to the possibility of using recycled construction materials in engineering works. The final goal is to involve them from an early age in the importance of reusing and recycling all types of materials across all economic sectors. These workshops aim to strengthen the participant’s curiosity and confidence in the technological field, equipping them with the necessary tools to explore their creativity and develop technical skills.

The workshop is structured in four steps, all of them with the active participation of the children, in which they are encouraged to share their experiences and knowledge on the topics covered. In the first stage, they are introduced to the world of civil engineering, learning what kind of activities a civil engineer performs. Then, they delve into the study of concrete, its usefulness and manufacturing process, emphasizing the importance of incorporating recycled materials, such as construction and demolition waste, steel slag, and even wind-turbine fibers, to preserve the environment and avoid the overexploitation of natural resources. The next phase consists of a practical activity, where each child makes their own concrete mix with recycled aggregates, filling prismatic molds to produce recycled concrete blocks. Finally, using the blocks previously prepared, the children build their own structures such as buildings, towers, and bridges, thus fostering their imagination and creativity. Feedback from the participating children showed that this activity allowed them to learn more about the construction materials around them and to awaken in them a spirit of sustainability.

Keywords:

STEAM, sustainability, concrete, preschool, primary school, workshop, civil engineering.