STEAMKitchen
About the project
The project period is March 2024 - February 2026.
It is a Erasmus+ KA220-HED project, code 2023-1-EE01-KA220-HED-000159885
- STEAMKitchen - Bridging STEAM practices and Home Economics in Teacher Education.
- Information about the project in the Estonian Research Information System - ETIS:
- Coordinator: Kristi Paas, lecturer of Home Economics theory and didactics, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University
- Project team in Tallinn University: Jaana Taar, Kristi Paas, Tiina Vänt, Katrin Männik and Matti Juhani Rossi
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STEAMKitchen project aims to contribute to the transformation of the educational practices in higher education, to provide teacher educators as well as preservice teachers concrete instruments and experiences for implementing STEAM principles into Home Economics learning practices with a focus on sustainability issues. The project aims to promote women's and girls’ interest in STEAM through interdisciplinary teaching in a home economics context. It is predicted that applying STEAM principles in Home Economics education brings girls closer to scientific and technological specialties and, at the same time, also broadens boys' understanding of implementing STEAM-related knowledge into everyday activities.
The STEAMKitchen project has three interdependent outputs: guidelines, a handbook, and an e-course that can be connected to teacher training programs of partner universities and implemented in schools in other EU countries. The created tools alone do not guarantee changes, therefore, as a result of this project, different parties become aware of the content and results of the STEAMKitchen project and thereby gain knowledge about planning interdisciplinary teaching and implementing STEAM learning in different classes, enabling students to integrate these principles in sustainable everyday life situations.
Project Partners
Universities from four countries participate in the STEAMKitchen project:
- Tallinn University, School of Natural Sciences and Health from Estonia has the role of the coordinator in this project
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Educational Sciences from Finland
- University of Stavanger from Norway
- Johannes Kepler University Linz from Austria
Project Activities
Opening meeting
18.-20.03.2024 Kick-off meeting in Linz, Austria. The first joint meeting of the project partners: getting to know the project members and discussing the project's activities and results.
Implementation of work package (WP) activities
WP 2 (01.04.2024–31.01.2025): Guidelines. From April to the end of October 2024, regular joint online discussions were held between project partners. The aim of these discussions was to collaboratively develop a draft of the guidelines, focusing on the effective integration of Home Economics and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) principles. The thematic areas were divided among the partners based on their expertise, ensuring that each country’s specific features related to Home Economics in the curriculum and STEAM education were represented.
During the monthly meetings, ideas were shared, and different approaches were discussed. By the end of summer, partners had agreed on the final structure and content of the guidelines. In September, a draft version was prepared, which was then reviewed by various focus groups (teachers, teacher educators, and policymakers) in October and November to gather feedback on the content and format. The feedback was largely positive, highlighting the value of integrating STEAM and Home Economics. The suggestions gathered were taken into account when preparing the final version, which was completed in December 2024. After that, translation into the partner countries’ languages began, and the text was adapted to fit the local context and terminology to ensure usability in each participating country. By January 2025, the guidelines were available in Estonian, Finnish, German, and Norwegian. Subsequently, a designer began work on creating a visually appealing final version of the text.
WP 3 (01.10.2024 - 28.02.2026): The Handbook of Learning Activities
The collection of ideas for the teacher's handbook content began alongside the development of the instructional materials. The main directions and task frameworks were established during the partners' meeting in Helsinki on October 7–8, where the future action plan and key work phases were agreed upon. During the meeting, various concepts were discussed and a shared vision for the structure of the task descriptions was developed.
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Since November 2024, the joint online discussions within WP3 focused on the creation and development of learning activities among project partners. This process has involved several stages, beginning with idea generation and topic mapping. Each activity was linked to specific elements of Home Economics and STEAM to ensure alignment with curricula and the project's objectives. A unified template structure was then developed as the basis for compiling the learning activities. The activity descriptions were continuously reviewed and commented on by partners. Based on the feedback received, the descriptions were refined and harmonized to ensure clarity and applicability across all partner countries.
A total of 20 learning activities have been compiled into the handbook.
STEAM and Home Economics in Practice: Piloting Learning Activities
In March, Home Economics teacher students from the University of Helsinki, in collaboration with the STEAMKitchen project, organized two workshops related to combining STEAM and Home Economics education for the members of the Finnish Home Economics Teachers' Association.
The workshops aimed to demonstrate how STEAM education can be meaningfully integrated into Home Economics through practical learning activities. Participants had the opportunity to test two classroom-ready experiments designed within the STEAMKitchen project. In the first activity, participants created a natural pH indicator using red cabbage and explored how it reacts with common household substances. In the second, they explored the various uses of vinegar in everyday life, while also considering how it could be used as a tool to guide students in reducing the chemical load in the home environment.
The workshops offered both inspiration and practical tools for incorporating interdisciplinary and sustainability-focused content into Home Economics teaching. Feedback from participants was highly positive, and the sessions clearly sparked further interest in STEAM topics within the Home Economics teacher community.
Piloting Activities and Teacher Seminars
The learning activity ideas were piloted with various target groups during the spring and autumn of 2025. The constructive feedback gathered during this phase allowed for the refinement of task descriptions, improvement of instructions, and better adaptation of activities to different learning environments and needs. This stage ensured that the activities are clear, pedagogically sound, and practically applicable.
Based on the refined materials, a unified English version of the teacher’s handbook was designed and subsequently translated into all partner languages. These translated handbooks facilitated the organization of teacher seminars in partner countries, supporting the wider implementation of the materials.
Teacher seminars were conducted between October 2025 and January 2026. The aim of these seminars was to introduce the learning activities compiled in the handbook and to provide teachers with the opportunity to experience the tasks from a learner's perspective, while collectively discussing their pedagogical value and feasibility within a school setting.
- Austria
- Finland
In November 2025, a seminar was held at the University of Helsinki where participants were introduced to STEAM pedagogy and the new handbook. During the practical sessions, participants designed cookie cutters and explored the potential uses of food waste and leavening agents. Teachers found the event inspiring, encouraging them to approach baking and waste management from new perspectives and to collaborate more closely with colleagues from other subjects in the future. The handbook was very well received, and the feedback on the methods was remarkably positive.
- Estonia
A teacher seminar day was held at Tallinn University on December 1, 2025. The seminar was designed based on the principles of practical and experiential learning. The day began with a brief introduction to the STEAMKitchen project and continued in a rotating workshop format, where teachers participated in three different practical sessions and one 'reflection' workshop focused on various dimensions of sustainability. Each workshop demonstrated different ways to integrate the STEAM approach with Home Economics education.
- Norway
The Norwegian teacher seminar took place on January 20, 2026, focusing on the role of practical learning: how classroom activities in Home Economics help create bridges between scientific theory and everyday life. During the practical sessions, participants were able to make observations and formulate their own explanations for what they learned.
Participants were divided into five groups to prepare sushi bowls, Baked Alaska, and pineapple jelly. Additionally, all groups collected food waste during the cooking process to analyze it later as part of the 'Waste on a Plate' activity. The day concluded with a collective tour and tasting, where groups compared the different choices made while completing the same tasks.
WP 4 (01.02.2025 - 28.02.2026) – Developing of an e-course.
WP4 began in February 2025. The final work package, which involved the development of an e-course, focused on promoting a modern and professional learning environment at partner universities, supporting the implementation of best practices and innovative methods in teacher training. The e-course will be integrated into teacher education curricula, allowing it to be used in the preparation of future teachers.
Partners from three universities (Tallinn University, the University of Helsinki, and Johannes Kepler University) participated in the development of the course modules.
Project Meeting in Tallinn in May 2025
To review the overall progress of the project, assess the development of work packages, and agree on the next joint activities, representatives from the partner universities met for a project meeting at Tallinn University.
While virtual meetings allow for regular communication and efficient coordination, face-to-face meetings play an important role in building trust, deepening collaboration, and fostering a shared understanding among project partners.
E-course
As part of WP 4, an interactive e-course titled 'Sustainable everyday actions – STEAM education for all' was developed to support the integration of the STEAM approach and sustainability principles into teacher education. The course has a volume of 3 ECTS credits and can be integrated into the teacher training curricula of the partner universities.
The e-course consists of an introduction and five modules. The learning content is interactive, including video materials, independent assignments, and self-assessment tools. The handbook developed in Work Package 3 is used as a core resource throughout the course.
The course was piloted at partner universities in early 2026. This pilot phase allowed for the collection of student feedback and the subsequent refinement of the course content and structure. The e-course has been open since February 2026 and is being disseminated through the joint efforts of all partners. The course is open to teacher education students from partner universities and other higher education institutions who wish to deepen their understanding of applying STEAM principles in daily life and teaching, including through Home Economics.
Project wrap-up and Celebration
On February 9, 2026, the STEAMKitchen Day was celebrated with a hybrid meeting that brought participants together both on-site and online. During the meeting, we summarized the activities carried out over the two-year project, shared experiences, celebrated our achievements, and collectively discussed future opportunities and plans.
Project Outcomes
STEAMKitchen Guidelines and Handbook
Here you will find the practical teaching materials and theoretical guidelines developed during the STEAMKitchen project to support the integration of Home Economics and STEAM education. These resources are available in multiple languages to provide inspiration and tools for educators across Europe.
In Estonian:
In English:
Integrating Home Economics and STEAM: A Guide to Interdisciplinary Learning for Sustainability
Integrating Home Economics and STEAM: A Handbook of Learning Activities for Sustainability
Suomeksi:
Kotitalous ja STEAM: lähtökohtia kestävän kehityksen monitieteiseen oppimiseen
Kotitalous ja STEAM: Oppimistehtäviä kestävän tulevaisuuden rakentamiseen
Auf Deutsch:
Ernährung und Haushalt mit MINKT: Eine Leitfaden für nachhaltiges, interdisziplinäres Lernen
Ernährung und Haushalt mit MINKT: Ein Handbuch mit Lernaktivitäten zu Nachhaltigkeit
PÃ¥ norsk:
Integrering av Mat og helse og STEAM: En guide til tverrfaglig læring for bærekraft
Integrering av Mat og helse i STEAM: En håndbok i tverrfaglig læring for bærekraft
STEAMKitchen e-course
E-course (3 ECTS): Integrating STEAM into Home Economics Education
This 3 ECTS course is designed for teacher students and practicing teachers interested in integrating STEAM approaches into everyday learning through Home Economics, with a strong focus on sustainability. The course is fully online, conducted in English, and can be completed within three months at different times of the year. Participants will explore how sustainability, interdisciplinary thinking, inclusion, and makerspace approaches can be meaningfully connected in teaching practice.
Why join this course?
- Gain a clear and practical understanding of the core principles of STEAM education
- Explore how STEAM connects to sustainability and everyday life in the context of Home Economics
- Strengthen your subject knowledge in Home Economics from an interdisciplinary perspective
- Develop creative thinking by combining science, technology, and practical life contexts
- Build confidence in planning lessons that connect theory with real-world practice
- Reflect on how education can support more sustainable everyday choices
- Develop and adapt ideas for interdisciplinary Home Economics and STEAM learning activities
The course is free of charge and assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. All mandatory tasks must be completed; they will be reviewed at the end of the course period.
Moodle account will be given to international participants once they are accepted into the course.
Spring semester: course runs from mid-February to the end of May
Autumn semester: course runs from mid-August to the end of November
If you are interested in joining, please let us know here
Additional information: Kristi Paas, kristi.paas@tlu.ee