Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures: First Nations Climate Playhouse

The world-first ‘Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures: First Nations Climate Playhouse’ - an interactive climate solutions experience - was held during Climate Action Week Sydney 2025 at the Australian Museum.

The experience was supported by a 2024 Innovation and Ideas Grant from the City of Sydney, and was delivered by 100% First Nations owned business TIPIAC Pty Ltd and Be The Future, in collaboration with additional First Nations businesses.

Thank you to the Australian Museum, Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub and Environmental Education NSW for supporting the Innovation and Ideas Grant submission.

Smiling children and educators

Photo credit: International Grammar School

The experience

The experience intertwined First Nations Caring for Country knowledge with the magic of embedding innovative nature-based solutions in our communities, creating a space for education, connection, and inspiration.

Lego display of three small wooden birdhouses surrounded by colorful plastic plants, trees, and flowers, with parking spaces numbered 40 and 41 at the bottom, on a red and gray surface.

Students went on a journey to:

Connect: Immerse in a visually stunning Acknowledgement of Country - and connect to Country by decorating a recycled paper leaf with natural inks.

Explore: Use hands and feet to explore sacred earth imagery and sustainable futures imagery with interactive floor projection games.

Imagine: Imagine a greener future of Sydney with a Lego (or Duplo) powered mission, inspired by First Nations knowledge of Caring for Country.

Empower: Create native seed bombs for students to plant at home, giving students a tangible way to care for Country.

Lego model of three small houses surrounded by colorful plants and flowers, with a parking lot in front.
A young woman giving a presentation to a classroom of children, with a slide displayed behind her asking, "How does nature make you feel?" The children are sitting on cushions, some raising their hands, with a banner on the side from the Internationa
Group of children and adults in a classroom during a sustainability event, with a presentation slide about Sacred Earth and climate playhouse in the background.
Colorful children's LEGO playset with flowers, animals, vehicles, and figures on a green baseplate.
Person hanging decorated paper eggs on a drying rack with colorful clothespins.
Two young girls wearing green vests playing with colorful LEGO toy animals and trees on a carpeted floor during a group activity in a classroom.
Four students in school uniforms standing and walking on an interactive floor display in a hallway.
Children working together on a LEGO city project on a table, with a yellow bowl of small LEGO pieces nearby.
A child coloring a paper with green crayon on a clipboard.
LEGO model of two small wooden birdhouses with flower gardens and greenery.
Colorful Lego toy landscape with vehicles, animals, trees, and buildings on a rug, with children in the background.
Three women standing on a wooden floor with red and gray cushions, in front of a large screen that says 'Imagine' and displays colorful nature illustrations.
Lego model of a neighborhood with houses, trees, and flower gardens placed on a table near a window with a view of trees and parked cars outside.
Young boy with blond hair smiling, wearing a green shirt, in an indoor setting with colorful objects on the table in front of him.
Children interact with an interactive projected floor display showing a tree and landscape scene.
Two young children, a boy and a girl, wearing yellow vests, participate in a classroom activity. An adult woman with glasses and a black t-shirt watches and interacts with them.
Group of children and adults gathered in a classroom with a presentation screen, some children sitting on floor pillows, and adults standing behind them, smiling.
Room set up for a children's climate play with mushroom-shaped cushions on the wooden floor, a large screen displaying climate change information, and a decorated tree prop on the left.
A smiling woman wearing a white t-shirt with colorful text that reads 'Future Makers,' standing in a classroom, with two children in the foreground engaged in activities.

Interactive sustainability and First Nations perspectives integrated across learning areas

Primary schools: Science and Technology, Human Society and its Environment, and Creative Arts

Preschools: Outcomes 1,2,4 and 5 | Sustainability & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives principles

Feedback from participating schools, early learning centres and community

Rated 4.9/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

100% of adult participants said they / their students gained new sustainability knowledge or skills

73% of adult participants said they believe they'll incorporate more sustainable learning activities with their students in future

“Interactive experience, engaging activities and speakers, great information provided, excellent team work activities”

Lego model of two wooden birdhouses with a garden and colorful flowers, decorated with Christmas lights.

“What’s my brother going to say about me having all this fun?” - early years student

“Brilliant experience, would attend more when offered”

“Excellent interactive, play based experiences with clear messages”

Children and adults standing and walking over an interactive projection on the floor depicting a tree and grass landscape.

“Great variety of activities to engage the kids”

A colorful collection of LEGO toys arranged on a carpeted floor, including vehicles, animals, trees, and various building blocks, with children in the background.

“Fun, engaging and informative”

LEGO model of a garden with two small wooden houses, trees, and colorful flowers.

“Informative, enthusiastic and knowledge”

“I really really really really really want to stay here another hundred days” - primary student

“It’s exactly the hope the kids need. And us”

Children playing with building blocks and a small model house on a table, surrounded by a small decorative tree, in a classroom or playroom setting.

“Loved the interactive aspect of the program, especially the seed bomb and Lego play”

International Grammar School Early Learning Case Study

IGS Early Learning was invited to take part in Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures, recognising the School’s commitment to embedding First Nations perspectives and sustainability practices in education.

Ahead of the museum visit, IGS invited Sally Giblin, CoFounder of Be The Future, and Bonnie Cochrane, founder of TIPIAC, to visit their Early Learning Centre to observe the children’s engagement with First Nations knowledge, language and sustainability practices.

Group of women at an indoor and outdoor event, looking at documents and smiling.
Group of children and adults in a classroom with a large window and a presentation screen displaying 'Sacred Earth, Sustainable Futures: First Nations Climate Playhouse.'

Photo credits: International Grammar School

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