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Stories from the Reef Term 2 - 3

8-10 May & 14-15, 17-18 August 2023

In the Centre for Creativity | Sydney Opera House Presents | Schools

STEAM Workshop | Stages ES and 1

Inspired by the underwater life of the Sydney Opera House's Artificial Reef STEM Project, students explore self-expression and playful exchange through theatre and storytelling to bring the underwater sea world alive!

Teacher’s Resource Pack

Our resources are packed with practical, creative activities that will add to your students’ experience. 

Available from April 2023

Curriculum Links

Learning about science, sustainability, urban Harbour habitats and biodiversity through English, Science, Drama, Dance and Visual Arts.

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Resources for teachers

The Opera House’s Teacher Resources provide inspirational activities to watch, listen and read for students in the classroom or learning at home. 

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Inspiring sustainability through creativity

Inspired by the Sydney Opera House Artificial Reef Project, students will learn through a series of creative arts activities in a sensory and immersive experience. These activities will be centred around self-expression and imaginative play, taking on characters you might encounter in the artificial reef, and performing imagined narratives and stories as a group.

Through collaborative making, the students will create their own underwater world using recycled materials in new and unusual ways. Combined with drama, storytelling and movement the workshop will culminate in a short curated show and tell.

The foundation of the workshop explores underwater ecosystems, sustainability, and plastic waste. It aims to increase students' sensitivity and understanding about healthy harbours and our relationship to caring and protecting our natural environments.

In this workshop, students will:

  • learn about the ecosystems of the harbour surrounding the Sydney Opera House and how artificial reefs are made and work to support new aquatic growth
  • collaborate with peers to create characters, small artworks and storylines that culminate in a short play or presentation
  • develop their ability to express themselves and communicate thoughts about their relationship to the natural world
  • learn about the ways the Sydney Opera House, and other organisations, can contribute to positively impacting the environment and community through sustainability projects

Stories from the Reef is a Creative Learning Workshop developed by Sarah-Vyne Vassallo with the Creative Learning Team at the Sydney Opera House.

Program information

These newly developed Creative Learning Modules use the site and building of the Sydney Opera House as a catalyst for learning about science, technology, engineering, arts, architecture and maths - transforming the way we understand STEM subjects and ideas through the creative and performing arts.

The Modules can be delivered alongside a tour of the House exploring First Nations perspectives, the architectural practice of Jorn Utzon and his collaborators, as well as the contemporary uses of the site as a world-class performing arts venue. All Modules include pre- and post-learning activities, as well as a range of video resources designed for students to develop lateral connections with content for deeply embedded learning experiences.

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