LIVE Facebook streams from the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Health) are proving popular with Cornish children and their parents while homeschooling.

Cornwall Council is staging the virtual events to support families during the current lockdown.

Every Friday a prominent member of the STEM community in Cornwall will give a demonstration, host a live experiment and take questions from members of the audience on the Cornwall Council Facebook page.

The first session was held on Friday 22nd January and featured Beach Guardian co-founder and marine biologist, Emily Stevenson. Emily hosted a beach themed, marine biology lesson and microplastic experiment.

Last week’s session featured Dave Pollard from Spaceport Cornwall and today, Caitlin Gould from TEC Girls will be getting youngsters involved in a Tower Challenge, and discussing jobs in engineering and how they help shape the world around us.

Future sessions will be hosted by Shawn Brown from Kids Invent Stuff and Toby Parkins from Headforwards.

Stem Coordinator at Cornwall Council, Janine Bisson, said: “With children at home we thought it was important to support parents with home schooling and to engage young people with a variety of subjects. We’ve had some great support from local STEM business leaders, who are all passionate about engaging young people in STEM and the opportunities that Cornwall can offer.”

Cornwall Council has also gathered some resources to help support parents with home schooling. The pages have been broken down to different age groups and can be used to support the provision provided by schools.

Cabinet Member for Children and Public Health, Sally Hawken, added: “It’s a difficult time for parents who are juggling home learning and working from home, so we hope these sessions will help. We have some engaging topics, and all can be replicated at home with little to no resources and all the sessions will be suitable for most age groups.

“I would like to thank the business owners that are supporting us with these broadcasts, and we hope people enjoy them.”

You can find the sessions on the Cornwall Council Facebook Page www.facebook.com/forcornwall