Celebrate our Reefs

There are a great series of FREE virtual excursions with Reef Education from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority coming up. World Turtle Day is on 23 May, World Environment on 6 June and World Oceans Day on 8 June. There is something for everyone.

Close up of a Turtle for World turtle day
© Commonwealth of Australia (Reef Authority)

Turtle Connections Let’s celebrate World Turtle Day, 2024. Join our marine educators to gain an understanding of the biology and adaptations of sea turtles. Using examples from our aquarium’s Turtle Hospital, we will examine the impacts of marine debris and look at how sea turtles are affected by other human threats worldwide and what actions are being taken to help protect sea turtle populations.

Thursday 23 May at 1.30pm AEST

Friday 24 May at 8:00am AEST

Ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef Celebrate World Environment Day with educators from Reef ED to learn about the diversity of ecosystems found within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and beyond. Discover some of the iconic wildlife that can found within these ecosystems, and how they are all interconnected. We’ll consider some of the threats facing these environments, and what we can all do locally and globally to help reduce these impacts.

© Commonwealth of Australia (Reef Authority)

Wednesday 5 June at 9.30am AEST

Thursday 6 June at 8:00 am AEST

Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef In recognition of World Oceans Day, Reef ED are shining the spotlight on the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Learn about corals as the building blocks of the Great Barrier Reef and the roles that various organisms play within the Reef community. Gain an understanding of the importance of various relationships between organisms such as corals and their symbiotic algae, and anemones and anemonefish. Explore the simple actions that you can take regardless of where you live, to help protect the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that call it home.

Great Barrier Reef
© Commonwealth of Australia (Reef Authority)

Wednesday 12 June at 1:00 pm AEST

Thursday 13 June at 8.00am AEST

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority acknowledges the continuing sea country management and custodianship of the Great Barrier Reef by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tradition Owners whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect the Reef for future generations.

Celebrating World Environment Day 2022

World Environment Day is celebrated every 5th of June  and this years theme is “Only One Earth“. Celebrate World Environment Day with us for a series of free virtual events for students on Monday 6 June.

World Environment Day promotion 2022

In 2022 World Environment Day focuses on “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature”.  Virtual Excursions Australia sponsored by AWS InCommunities have a program of free virtual events for students across Australia to help them connect with nature.

There is a great program of free events on Monday 6 June starting with Mindfulness in Nature at 9.15am and wrapping up with an engaging science show from Fizzics Education.

Check out the full program

Sponsored by:

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Virtual School Events

Virtual Excursions Australia is supporting schools across Australia by providing discounted live and engaging virtual events. Sessions will be delivered by some of Australia’s best education presenters.

Rural Access Gap Schools Promo composite image of 2022 content

There are 5 sessions available each term during 2022. Sessions are scheduled on Wednesdays at 9.30am AEST for 45 minutes. Sessions are delivered as a webinar through Zoom and students will be able to ask questions through the Q&A function.  Join us for a single program or book a 5 session or 10 session package.

Term 2 topics include:

  • Magical Story Maps
  • Interactive talk with a Holocaust survivor
  • Chemistry Chaos show
  • What’s in your Backyard
  • Intro to Great Barrier Reef

Find out more using the  Rural and Remote, School Package or Homeschool Package buttons below.

Virtual Excursions Australia is supporting students across Australia by providing discounted live and engaging virtual events.

Coastcare Week 2021

Coastcare Week 2021 is about discovering what you can do to help protect our coasts and marine environments. Virtual Excursions Australia has a range of FREE programs to provide learners access to educational content to achieve this goal.

Where the rivers meet the sea

Explore of the interactions between the land and sea. Eighty-five percent of Australians live within 50km of the coast. This session looks at the waste that washes downstream in our catchments, the impacts it has on our estuaries, wetlands and coastal areas where the rivers meets the sea.

Mangroves on Georges River Sydney

Deep Blue Oceans

Dive into the science of the sea with Fizzics Education. Explore the physical factors that determine life underwater and along our coastlines.

Amanda scuba diving

Marine Life

Take a journey beneath the waves with Karen from Australian Environmental Education to explore Australia’s amazing marine life. Discover different marine habitats and the animals that live there.

Clockwise: male White’s seahorse, stars and stripes puffer, mourning cuttlefish and common stingaree
© John Turnbull

How to conduct a beach survey

Recognise Coastcare Week by learning how you can conduct a beach survey. Our coasts are impacted by our actions on land. Rubbish and microplastics can be found washed up on almost every Australian beach. Join Karen from Australian Environmental Education to learn more about micro plastics and how to conduct a beach survey.

Detail of hands holding colander with microplastics on the beach
© dobledphoto

Coastcare Week is about working together to care for our coastal and marine environments. Find out more about the Impacts on plastics in our oceans.

Supported AMP Tomorrow Fund grants

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Virtual Excursions with Sydney Jewish Museum

The Sydney Jewish Museum is Virtual Excursions Australia’s newest content provider. The Sydney Jewish Museum is an institution that gives history a voice through collecting and preserving historic objects, commemorating and educating, with a mission to challenge visitors’ perceptions of morality, social justice, democracy and human rights. 

History LIVE: Behind the scenes with a curator

Have you ever wondered about all the different artefacts in a museum? Did you know that not all of them are on display at the same time? Behind the scenes, many more artefacts are waiting to tell their stories.

Wednesday 17 November at 2 – 3pm

FREE

Stage 3 & 4 school students

Discovering Chanukah for Primary Students

Ever wondered about the Jewish festival of Chanukah? What do the candles represent and what is a dreidel? Candles, dreidels and even fried foods are all important parts of the Jewish festival of lights, Chanukah! This year Chanukah, which is celebrated over 8 nights, will begin in late November.

Thursday 25 November at 2pm

FREE

History – Stage 1 & 2: Community and Remembrance

Digital program and online resources

Sydney Jewish Museum has a range of program to engage your students virtually in an interactive workshop. Benefit from the expertise and experience of our team of educators to create an engaging, thought-provoking experience for your students.

Find out more about these programs

Online resources

The Sydney Jewish Museum offers free curriculum-linked teaching resources underpinned by rigorous research and expert subject knowledge. Discover a range of lesson plans, videos, worksheets and activities available for you to download and incorporate into your classroom.

Many of our resources offer a sneak peak behind the scenes of the Museum to discover a range of case studies, videos, objects and images that will help you bring history to life for your students.

Find resources for your students

Free virtual excursions this November

Virtual Excursions Australia has a range of FREE virtual excursions on offer between 1 – 26 November. ClickFest is an annual virtual excursions festival run in November highlighting the diversity and scope of virtual excursions available to students across Australia.

There are live, interactive and engaging virtual excursions from some of Australia’s best online content providers. Topics and programs will vary over the virtual excursions festival to provide flexibility for teachers and students. There is something to suit everyone this November.

ClickFest 2021 enables learners from across Australia to have access to high quality innovative educational content.

Supported AMP Tomorrow Fund grants

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Children’s Week

Virtual Excursions Australia has a range of FREE programs for Children’s Week 2021. Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood.

Children's Week promo with girl

Natural Disasters

A hands-on science workshop where we investigate all manner of natural disasters and the science behind them.

Under the Sea

Take a journey beneath the waves to explore Australia’s amazing marine life. Discover different marine habitats and the animals that live there. 

Liquid Nitrogen Show

A “super cool” science show where we freeze things, explode things and explore just what happens when objects are rapidly cooled or heated.

Fascinating Frogs

Did you know that there are 240 species of frogs found across Australia? Find out how you can identify the frogs in your local area.

Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood.

Supported AMP Tomorrow Fund grants

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Earth Science Week: SciKids Trivia

How much do you know about the Earth! Have you always wanted to test your science knowledge against other kids all around Australia? Well, now’s your chance! Challenge yourself and test your knowledge this Earth Science Week.

Kids excited around computer

Test your scientific knowledge in this free, online trivia event hosted by Virtual Excursions Australia and compete against other kids from your school or across the country.

Team up with friends and join our online Science Trivia competition for kids.

Tuesday 12 October: 5pm – 6pm

Ages: 8 – 16

Duration: 60 mins

For the best experience, we recommend having two devices: one for joining the webinar (a laptop or computer) and another for answering questions (a phone or tablet). If you only have a single device, not to worry, you can still join in on the fun! Simply switch between the Zoom Webinar and the Kahoot! windows during the session.

Supported AMP Tomorrow Fund grants

AMP foundation logo

School Holiday Programs

There are a great range of online programs to keep your kids engaged this school holidays. There are FREE and small charged sessions available from some of the great Virtual Excursions Australia content providers.

There is something for everyone

FREE YouTube LIVE events

From backyards to bushland there is a variety of animals living near you. Learn to identify animals from the clues that they leave behind and discover the diversity of animals in your local area. Children will the meet live Stick Insects and a live Green Tree Frog

What's in your Backyard graphic

Tuesday 21 Sept 2021 at 9.30am: https://youtu.be/2_YFXbplJzs

Tuesday 28 Sept 2021 at 9.30am: https://youtu.be/wJaDHS0f8h4

Join the Royal Botanic Gardens on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the school holidays from 10 am AEST for a spectacular YouTube Live Stream sessions. In these virtual sessions, kids will work with a Gardens educator to discover Indigenous foods, native bees, gardening at home and more. Make sure to join in on the fun on the day.

Gardens fun

State Library of NSW

State Library of NSW has a great range of programs available for the next school holidays. The Kids at the Library and Storytime series are great programs to keep you entertained and stay connected with the library.

SciFest 2021 videos

If you missed out on SciFest 2021, we have recording from the highlight sessions. Join ANSTO to learn about the Periodic Table. Karen from Australian Environmental Education will explore your Backyard Biodiversity. Fizzics Education and Street Science will bring some great science experiments into your home these school holidays.

composite image for scifest

ACMI school holiday animation challenge

Attention young animators. ACMI is challenging you to create a short animation in any style you wish. In creating your animation, you need to refer — in any way you like — to ‘spring’.

Greater Sydney Parklands

Bush School is a nature play program that combines storytelling, nature based activities, and nature games. Bring the park to you with experienced Educators this school holidays. Live sessions online provide fun and educational activities for the whole family to try in your own backyard.

Bush School image GSP

Fizzics Education

Fizzic Education has 150 Science Experiments online for FREE. Science experiments and project ideas using simple, low cost materials that teach science easily. They also have some online school holiday programs.

Liquid Nitrogen Holiday Show

Monday 20 September at 10:00am AEST

Crazy Cool Chemistry:

Tuesday 28 September at 1.00pm AEST

SciFam Trivia

Test your family’s scientific knowledge in this online trivia event hosted by Fizzics Education and compete against other families across the country. Enjoyable for all generations and kids of all ages.

Toonworld

Are you ready to Go DRAWING MAD This school Holidays! “It’s the most fun your kids can have sitting down without you being there!” Calling all young artists to Toonworld! Join us this holidays and help Tooney and defend the Toonworld!

Go drawing made program image

Our cartooning journey will be filled with drawing challenges where you will meet fun characters and we will design our own wonderful heroes while defending the lands against the evil Rubbix and his rampaging stickmen army! 

Monday September 27th: 2:00pm to 3:00pm – $20

Friday October 1st: 2:00pm to 3:00pm – $20 or $30 for both sessions

https://toonworld.com.au/student_enrolment_form/

Perfect for Ages 5-10 Invite your Friends!!

SciFest 2021: Trivia nights

SciFest Trivia is fun for the whole family. Can you name all the planets of the solar system in order? Do you know which vital gas your heart pumps around your body? Have you always wanted to test your science knowledge against other kids around Australia or your family?

Test your family’s scientific knowledge in this free, online trivia event hosted by Virtual Excursions Australia and compete against other families across the country.

SciKids

Team up with friends and join our online Science Trivia competition for kids.

Kids excited around computer

Monday 16 August: 6pm – 7pm

Ages: 8 – 16

Duration: 60 mins

SciFam

Enjoyable for all generations and kids of all ages – join our online Science Trivia competition for families. Join our online Science Trivia competition for families.

Family around a computer

Friday 27 August: 7pm – 8.30pm

For families with kids of all ages

Duration: 90 mins

For the best experience, we recommend having two devices: one for joining the webinar (a laptop or computer) and another for answering questions (a phone or tablet). If you only have a single device, not to worry, you can still join in on the fun! Simply switch between the Zoom Webinar and the Kahoot! windows during the session.

Brought to you by the Sydney Science Trail