Learning Comes to Life at the STEAM Festival

Last week, British International School of Boston (BISB) students took learning far beyond the classroom as they participated in the STEAM Festival at Walt Disney World. Across three inspiring days, students explored science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on experiences designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

The result was powerful learning that students could see, feel, and apply in real time.

What Is the STEAM Festival?

The STEAM Festival brings together students from 25 Nord Anglia Education schools across The Americas for an immersive learning experience hosted through Disney Imagination Campus.

Workshops take place across all four Walt Disney World parks, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. Students explore how creativity and technical thinking come together behind the scenes of world-famous attractions.

From understanding the physics of roller coasters to discovering how music shapes storytelling, students are encouraged to think like Disney Imagineers. They solve real problems, collaborate with peers from different countries, and see how STEAM subjects connect to real careers and real-world innovation.

Day One, Exploring Space, Engineering, and Physics in Action

The experience began with students visiting Windermere Prep, a Nord Anglia sister school, where learning focused on space science and engineering. Students built and launched rockets, tested remote-control vehicles on different “planet” surfaces, and explored what conditions might allow life to exist.

When those conditions failed, students were challenged to design alien life adapted to harsh environments. These activities encouraged problem solving, creativity, and scientific thinking through hands-on experimentation.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, another group explored the physics behind roller coasters. Students studied propulsion systems, energy transfer, forces, Newton’s laws, and braking systems using eddy currents. A behind-the-scenes experience revealed how rides are engineered before students applied their learning while exploring the park.

It was an exciting mix of theory, creativity, and real-world application.

Day Two, Technology, Music, and Emotional Storytelling

On the second day, students continued their workshops across EPCOT and Windermere Prep, collaborating with peers from across The Americas.

At EPCOT, students attending the Technology of Disney Parks workshop explored how innovation has shaped attractions over time. They learned how hydraulics and pneumatics work, how sound and lighting create emotional impact, and how technology evolves to meet new creative challenges. Backstage visits and animatronics demonstrations brought these concepts to life.

Another group explored the power of music through the Disney Music in Storytelling workshop. Students examined how music influences emotions and supports storytelling across cultures. From watching a film in the China pavilion to listening to the Voices of Liberty perform, students reflected on how sound shapes audience experience.

The day ended with students enjoying EPCOT together, sharing reflections and experiences that strengthened friendships and global connections.

Day Three, Design Thinking and Creative Collaboration

On the final day, students split into three groups for a full day of learning.

At Magic Kingdom, students took part in a Theme Design workshop. Working in teams, they designed an original theme park, considering how architecture, music, scent, and visual design create immersive experiences. Ideas were shared, refined, and combined into one unified vision, developing collaboration and creative confidence.

At EPCOT, students in the Technology Review workshop explored how technology supports themed environments. From studying design elements in the Italy pavilion to learning how animatronics are built and powered, students gained insight into the engineering behind storytelling.

The day ended with the whole group coming together at Magic Kingdom, enjoying iconic attractions such as TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain, a memorable conclusion to an inspiring learning journey.

Why Experiences Like This Matter

At BISB, we believe students learn best when they can connect knowledge to real-world experiences. The STEAM Festival challenges students to think critically, work collaboratively, and apply learning beyond textbooks.

These experiences help students develop skills that matter, creativity, resilience, communication, and confidence. They also show students how STEAM subjects open doors to exciting future pathways.

“Watching students from different schools come together at the Windermere Prep during our STEAM Festival was fantastic. Their collaboration, enthusiasm, and creativity really stood out, especially during the rocket launch and alien life challenges.” Jason McLean - Head of Science & MIT Collaboration Lead Regional MIT Lead - North America

Discover Learning Beyond the Classroom at BISB

Global experiences like the STEAM Festival are a powerful part of a BISB education. They reflect our commitment to innovative learning, global collaboration, and preparing students for a changing world.

If you would like to learn more about how we bring learning to life for your child, we invite you to connect with our admissions team.