After more than 40 workshops delivered as part of the “Virtual Art and Culture” project, led by the HERMES association with FabLab taking part as a project partner, we have made the first video instructions for running the workshops on your own available on the project website and on our YouTube channel.

The “Virtual Art and Culture” project consists of four cycles of workshops: Sound, Water-Earth-Air, Cryptography and Forum Theatre. 

The first video instructions are available for the Cup Phone, Parachutist, Scytale Cipher and Grille Cipher workshops. 

The video instructions for the “Cup Phone” workshop show, step by step, how to make a primitive telephone using two plastic cups and a piece of string, through which children learn about transmitting sound over a distance. By following the instructions for the “Parachutist” workshop, children will use a freezer bag, a clothes peg and some string to create their own parachute model and learn about the history of parachute making and Faust Vrančić’s role in it. 

The workshops from the “Sound” and “Water-Earth-Air” cycles are intended for pupils in the lower grades of primary school, but they can also be carried out by pre-school children with the supervision and help of a parent or educator. 

The workshops from the “Cryptography” cycle are intended for pupils in the sixth and seventh grades of primary school. Pupils will learn how to build their own tool for encrypting messages and try their hand at encrypting and decrypting messages. 

All the workshops are participatory and interdisciplinary in character, connecting history, art, science and the acquisition of skills in using modern technology. 

The video instructions can be used by children, by educational staff and parents, and by anyone who wants to get to know the STEM field in an entertaining way – and you can expect more fun and instructive videos in the period ahead.

Whether you want to repeat a workshop you took part in, try a cycle you did not take part in, or have not had the chance to take part in the project at all so far – visit the project website or our YouTube channel and try running the workshops yourself. Plenty of fun and even more learning are guaranteed.

The project was co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund.

The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the HERMES association.

More information about EU funds: www.strukturnifondovi.hr, www.esf.hr