At NAIS Dublin, we believe that some of the most meaningful learning happens when students step outside the classroom and into real-world experiences.
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming year 6 / 5th Grade students from nine Nord Anglia schools for a three-day STEAM experience filled with creativity, collaboration, and discovery.
From the moment they arrived, there was an immediate sense of connection. Senior Programme Manager for Collaborations at Nord Anglia Regional, Luke Donnelly, reflected:
“For me, seeing how quickly students who had never met each other made friends and connected straight away was incredible—perhaps because they were all the same age group. The activities NAIS set out, both on and off campus, made it truly special.”
A highlight of the programme was the opportunity to extend learning beyond school walls. Through partnerships with local organisations, students explored STEAM in real-world environments.
Jenifer Allaz, a teacher from Collège Champittet in Switzerland, shared:
“We have so enjoyed the opportunity to see Dublin during the scavenger hunt. We were really impressed that NAIS Dublin brought us to DreamSpace at Microsoft and the Explorium. The students were able to experiment not just in school, but with your local partners—this was a new experience for all of us.”
From hands-on innovation sessions to exploration across the city, students experienced how STEAM connects to the world around them.
Throughout the three days, what stood out most was the students themselves—their curiosity, their confidence, and their ability to articulate thoughtful questions.
Whether they were working in small collaborative groups or tackling challenges independently, students demonstrated a real enthusiasm for learning and problem-solving, some electrifying.
One of the highlights was the Dublin city treasure hunt, where students explored the city while solving challenges together.
“We loved the treasure hunt in Dublin city centre,” shared students from Warsaw. “A highlight was the dry ice and electricity experiment.”
Students from Rotterdam also reflected on the experience:
“We really enjoyed making new friends and trying new things.”
Back on campus, students took part in a wide range of creative and physical STEAM challenges that brought learning to life in unexpected ways.
Cloud making- a science experiment in the Dome of Science was a highlight with students studying the different clouds and then created their own.
In our outdoor learning space, Narnia, students worked in teams to design and build rain shelters—testing their ideas in a fast-paced, 15-minute innovation challenge that demanded creativity, collaboration, and quick problem-solving.
STEAM in Action: Creativity Meets Sport and statistic analysis
On the pitch, STEAM met sport through a series of dynamic activities inspired by Irish culture such as:
What made this experience truly special was not just the range of activities, but the sense of belonging and connection that developed so quickly among the students.
In just three days, they built friendships across countries, gained confidence in unfamiliar environments, and discovered new ways of thinking. “Speaking with one of NAIS organisers, Alirio, he shared his joy in seeing students become excited about a mix of STEAM challenges combined with a local touch—giving them a meaningful experience of what Ireland has to offer.”
This is what a Nord Anglia education is all about: bringing together a global community, inspiring curiosity, and creating opportunities for students to learn with and from each other. These are all skills that AI can’t teach you.
We are incredibly proud of all students who took part—and grateful to our visiting schools for making this such a memorable experience.
A big thank you to the NAIS Dublin leads who planned and organized this event making a real impact for all the NAE students.
