Imagining the Future
Explore our fictional story series that connects imagination with STEM ideas.
From intergalactic code and literally out of this world ecosystems to alien signals and unexpected friendships, Imagining the Future brings STEM skills to life through a fictional quest: establishing a human outpost on Callisto, Jupiter's second largest moon.
Suitable for ages 8 to 12, these stories subtly introduce STEM learning to the reader as they go. Available in traditional print, audio, and audio-visual formats to suit all learning styles, they can be read individually or in small groups.
Each title in the series stands alone, but connects back to the broader concept for the whole series. Think of it like a library of mini-stories, each one exploring a different point in humanity’s exploration of space.
Far Out! by Lili Wilkinson
Young stargazer Stella is excited, hers is the first family to be launched into deep space. Join the Kaufmanns for an adventure packed with rocket thrusters, life-or-death choices, and a groovy dancing robot frog.
Calculating Apple Pie by Melissa Keil
Sisters Kal and Arche are on a space voyage to Callisto, but a reckless act to ease homesickness leads to unexpected consequences. This thought-provoking story explores futuristic food production, coding, and the real-world risks of tampering with technology.
Semper by Rebecca Lim
Shang has sacrificed everything to explore distant moons for critical minerals, but her space exploration dreams are being ruined by a playful Drobo who is more of a distraction than a help. Or is it?
Proof by Gary Lonesborough
Tanner and his sister Rachel are investigating a mysterious illness affecting their lunar outpost community on Callisto. Rachel is pretty certain she knows what’s causing it, and won’t stop until she uncovers the truth.
Earthbound by Alison Evans
Pen and their father have returned to Earth from Callisto, only to face a mysterious malfunction in Pen’s comms device and a strange rhythmic signal. With the help of an android, Pen investigates the anomaly and discovers something incredible.
Free activities linked to the stories
Keep the learning going with this free Blooms and Gardner’s Activity Matrix. This matrix is a useful education tool that combines Bloom’s Taxonomy (a theory that outlines the different stages of learning) with Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences (the different ways in which people learn).
Whether your students are budding inventors, storytellers, or future changemakers, this matrix helps every child connect with the stories in their own way. Perfect for learners with diverse abilities and interests, it sparks curiosity, encourages critical thinking and builds skills for tomorrow, whilst also providing assessment opportunities for the classroom.
Designed to cater for diverse learning styles across Years 3-6, the matrix also links directly to the Australian Curriculum (v9.0) outcomes. Download your free copy below.
Teacher Activity Matrix
Parent Activity Matrix
Future You is hosted at UNSW Sydney and co-funded by the Optiver Foundation and the Faculties of Science at UNSW Sydney and The University of Sydney.
