Adobe: Planet Podcast is a full day (4.5 hr) incursion, using sustainability themes, designed to enrich gifted and talented students. Students will write, produce, and create their own podcast around the theme, ‘Reconnecting to Our Natural Environment,’ blending creativity with environmental awareness, empowering them to inspire others to embrace nature and live sustainably.

Students will explore the importance of protecting the environment, learn about living sustainably, and discover ways to make a positive impact. They will develop valuable skills in teamwork, research, writing, and digital media production, while collaborating to create a podcast that shares their newfound knowledge with others.

By the end of the workshop, students will send their podcasts to families and are encouraged to share them with their school community. This workshop offers students the opportunity to grow as communicators, environmental advocates, and creators, all while promoting a more sustainable future.

Suited for students in Years 3 - 6
Duration: 5 hours
Max students: 8
Cost: $100 - The program is FREE with a NSW Creative Kids Voucher

Stage 2 Outcomes:
EN2-OLC-01
- Identify contexts in which social conventions can vary and influence interactions
- Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information
- Understand that rhetorical questions can be used for intentional effect

EN2-REFLU-01 
- Maintain stamina when reading extended texts
- Explain how prosodic reading involves emphasis, expression, intonation and pausing
- Recognise that there are different purposes and audiences for reading and adjust reading rate to suit a text’s purpose
- Reflect on how adjusting reading rate and prosody supports comprehension and can engage an audience

CA2-MUS-01
- Experiments with instrumental techniques and sound sources to create changes in dynamics and expression

ST2-DDT-02
- Use core features of common digital tools to share content, plan tasks and collaborate safely following an agreed code of conduct

Stage 3 Outcomes
EN3-OLC-01
- Identify varying social conventions that influence interactions across wide audiences
- Interact in a range of contexts and deliberately adjust language and style
- Apply active listening strategies by retelling or repeating what another person has expressed and by building on what has been said
- Experiment with volume, pace and intonation to enhance meaning when presenting and reciting, and recognise the effects these have on audience understanding
- Present multimodal arguments that include research and references, topic-specific vocabulary and the selection of persuasive techniques appropriate to audience

EN3-CWT-01
- Experiment with figurative language for effect and to engage the reader, including metaphor, hyperbole, oxymoron and allusion
- Acknowledge sources of information to add credibility and authority to arguments and information

CA3-MUS-01
- Express musical ideas using voice, instruments, environmental sounds and digital technologies

ST3-SCI-01
- Explain how recyclable, reusable, renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials enhance sustainability
- Investigate ways to collect and process waste to reduce pollution or increase the sustainable use of materials
- Create and communicate a plan to implement a sustainable practice in a community that addresses an identified environmental concern
- Identify renewable and non-renewable energy sources
- Research and present information describing the impact on resources and the environment of using a renewable or a non-renewable resource to generate electricity

Part 1 - Minecraft Eco-Home
Minecraft Eco-home is a is a half day (2 hr) incursion, children will explore eco-homes and cities, learning about sustainable design and technologies like energy-efficient buildings, smart cities, and green solutions. Using Minecraft, they’ll design and build their own eco-home, applying concepts like solar energy, water recycling, and sustainable construction. Students will also discover urban farming and permaculture to create self-sufficient spaces.

As they build, they'll develop skills in coding, problem-solving, and design, while experimenting with renewable technologies. By the end, they'll have a fully realized eco-home in Minecraft and a deeper understanding of sustainable design, becoming the eco-innovators of tomorrow!

Part 2 - AR: Urban Habitat
AR: Urban Habitat is a is a half day (2 hr) incursion, students will design, build, and code a 3D urban habitat for native wildlife. They will research the needs of local species and create sustainable habitats that support biodiversity in cities. Using 3D modelling tools and coding, students will add interactive features to simulate real-world conditions like seasonal changes and wildlife behavior, and explore their designs in augmented reality (AR).

By the end, students will have a fully interactive 3D habitat, gaining skills in digital design, coding, and ecological thinking while learning how technology can promote sustainability in urban planning.

Duration: 5 hours
Max students: 33 per workshop
Cost: $31 per student

We require:
- 1 charged device (not Chromebooks) per 2 students
- Minecraft Education Edition installed
- Students to know their login details (Department of Education students have a Minecraft Education Edition account.)

Stage 2 Syllabus Outcomes:

ST2-SCI-01
- Describe the relationship between habitat, ecosystem and environment
- Observe and describe living and nonliving things in a habitat
- Describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other for survival
- Research how energy from the Sun is used

ST2-DDT-01
- Explore the design of a structure, product or place and identify how user needs are addressed
- Generate, develop and communicate design ideas
- Use core features of common digital tools to share content, plan tasks and collaborate safely following an agreed code of conduct

Stage 3 Syllabus Outcomes:

ST3-SCI-01
- Identify and describe how the loss or introduction of plants or animals affects an Australian ecosystem
- Explain how recyclable, reusable, renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials enhance sustainability
- Investigate ways to collect and process waste to reduce pollution or increase the sustainable use of materials
- Create and communicate a plan to implement a sustainable practice in a community that addresses an identified environmental concern
- Identify renewable and non-renewable energy sources
- Research and present information describing the impact on resources and the environment of using a renewable or a non-renewable resource to generate electricity
- Explain the effects of natural events and human activities on climate

ST3-DDT-01
- Develop design ideas to build a prototype using design criteria
- Test, evaluate and modify the prototype to meet the design criteria

EnviroQuest: Video Game is a full day (4 hr) incursion, kids will design and develop their own games focused on promoting sustainability and eco-friendly choices. The journey begins with calculating their ecological footprint, which will inspire their game concepts and help them design experiences that encourage environmental action.

Students will explore key game design principles like gameplay, storytelling, and user experience, while learning to code using platforms like Scratch or Tynker. As they program characters, challenges, and rewards, they’ll build skills in coding, problem-solving, and digital storytelling.

By the end of the project, kids will have created a game that raises environmental awareness and inspires others to adopt greener habits, while gaining confidence in using technology for positive change. It’s a fun, creative experience that combines learning with hands-on impact.

Suited for students in Years 3 - 6 students
Duration: 5 hours
Max students: 33 per workshop

Stage 2 Stage Outcomes
ST2-SCI-01
- Describe the relationship between habitat, ecosystem and environment
- Observe and describe living and nonliving things in a habitat
- Describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other for survival
- Research how energy from the Sun is used

ST2-DDT-01
- Generate, develop and communicate design ideas
- Use core features of common digital tools to share content, plan tasks and collaborate safely following an agreed code of conduct

Stage 3 Stage Outcomes
ST3-SCI-01
- Identify and describe how the loss or introduction of plants or animals affects an Australian ecosystem
- Explain how recyclable, reusable, renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials enhance sustainability
Investigate ways to collect and process waste to reduce pollution or increase the sustainable use of materials
Create and communicate a plan to implement a sustainable practice in a community that addresses an identified environmental concern
- Identify renewable and non-renewable energy sources
- Research and present information describing the impact on resources and the environment of using a renewable or a non-renewable resource to generate electricity
- Explain the effects of natural events and human activities on climate

ST3-DDT-01
- Develop design ideas to build a prototype using design criteria
- Test, evaluate and modify the prototype to meet the design criteria

Eco-Bot Waste Warrior is a full day (4 hr) incursion, students will design, build, and program a Micro:bit Lego robot to locate, collect, and dispose of land-based trash and pollution. They will explore global waste issues and examine existing robots used to tackle pollution, from trash-collecting machines to waste-management drones.

By researching these technologies, students will gain insight into how engineering and coding can address environmental challenges. They will use this knowledge to create a robot tailored to clean a specific area, such as a park, beach, or street.

Students will also write and debug code to make their robot functional, learning to use sensors for trash detection and motors for movement. This hands-on project will develop their technical skills in coding and engineering while fostering an understanding of environmental sustainability and the role technology plays in solving global problems. By the end, students will have created a working robot prototype that reflects both their technical skills and commitment to a cleaner planet.

Suited for students in Years 3 - 6
Duration: 3 hours
Max students: 33 per workshop

Key syllabus outcomes: 

Stage 2 Syllabus Outcomes
ST2-SCI-01
- Describe the relationship between habitat, ecosystem and environment
- Observe and describe living and nonliving things in a habitat
- Describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other for survival
- Research how energy from the Sun is used

ST2-DDT-01
- Explore the design of a structure, product or place and identify how user needs are addressed
- Generate, develop and communicate design ideas
- Use core features of common digital tools to share content, plan tasks and collaborate safely following an agreed code of conduct

Stage 3 Syllabus Outcomes
ST3-SCI-01
- Identify and describe how the loss or introduction of plants or animals affects an Australian ecosystem
- Explain how recyclable, reusable, renewable, biodegradable and compostable materials enhance sustainability
- Investigate ways to collect and process waste to reduce pollution or increase the sustainable use of materials
- Create and communicate a plan to implement a sustainable practice in a community that addresses an identified environmental concern
- Identify renewable and non-renewable energy sources
- Research and present information describing the impact on resources and the environment of using a renewable or a non-renewable resource to generate electricity
- Explain the effects of natural events and human activities on climate

ST3-DDT-01
- Develop design ideas to build a prototype using design criteria
- Test, evaluate and modify the prototype to meet the design criteria