Get your STEM on with Cristy Burne

Cristy Burne knows how to write action-packed outdoor adventures – while also throwing in a science fact or two! Her collection of environmental stories, Into the Blue, Beneath the Trees, Off the Track and To the Lighthouse, will transport kids into the wilderness, inspiring them to get outside and connect with the natural world around them.

Cristy has combined her love of storytelling with her degrees in biotechnology and science communication to help foster creativity and daring in her readers. Just like in her fun and playful new book with two of Australia’s LEGO® Masters, A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future

To get your kids into STEM-related activities, here are our top classroom activities inspired by her books.

Into the Blue

Imagine a shipwreck, much like the Omeo on Coogee Beach. What might you see there? With our illustrated birds-eye view of the Omeo shipwreck, students can draw and label any plants or animals, lost objects, trash and treasure that they might see if they were to snorkel around an old wreck.

For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here.

To the Lighthouse

Kids will be encouraged to get their creative juices flowing when they engage in activities such as designing their own lighthouse, drawing their own island, creating a graphic novel or even writing their own adventure story in this activity booklet. The activity booklet covers curriculum subjects such as Literacy, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture, Maths, Technology and Visual Arts, with helpful tips throughout.

Or you can let their imaginations go wild with the Design Your Own Holiday Adventure activity sheet, which encourages creative thinking, geography skills and visual learning.

For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here. 

Off the Track

A book about falling in love with the bush and disconnecting from technology, Off the Track, teaches problem-solving skills and the importance of working together. The Make Your Own Survival Whistle activity sheet is designed to incorporate science and visual art to foster active listening, creativity and design skills.

For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here.

Beneath the Trees

Have you ever seen a platypus in the wild? Learn all about monotremes in Beneath the Trees, then enjoy making a platypus bookmark with the help of Cristy’s activity sheet.

Have you ever wondered ‘what kind of animal is a platypus’? This activity sheet incorporates biological science, English and visual art using research, literacy skills and creative design skills.

For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here.

A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future

And don’t forget to check out A New World Rises, where Cristy’s quirky and creative text brings the RELICS exhibition by Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler to life. With free teaching notes that touch on Science and Tech, A New World Rises is an engaging and entertaining addition to any classroom.