It all began when the children at The Point Preschool, located on Dharawal Country, unearthed an unknown object in their sandpit.

“What could this be?” the early learners asked, preschool director Catherine Lee explained.

“The children began to share their theories: ‘Maybe it’s a barnacle. A jellyfish with tentacles. A dinosaur horn. Something out of a volcano’.”

The questions sparked a child-led inquiry to discover what the unknown object was. The children’s ‘spectacular find’ was more than they ever imagined possible, Catherine revealed.

“After reading books and scouring the internet, the children weighed, measured and photographed the ‘spectacular find’, and emailed an expert at the Australian Museum,” Catherine said.

“We were in awe to discover that our spectacular find was a fossilised coral skeleton from the Great Barrier Reef.”

Supporting children’s inquiry

This revelation intensified the children’s curiosity and wonder. They were eager to learn more about why the coral – which travelled 1,799 kilometres from Garrigarrang Country to their preschool in Oyster Bay, NSW – was bleached and how the reef can be protected.

As part of their project, the early learners photographed the coral and investigated it with a microscope. They also created observational drawings, listened to the sounds of live coral and built a model reef using recycled materials. Researching threats to the Great Barrier Reef was a key part of the children’s inquiry, too.

Driven by their desire to make a difference, the children began brainstorming how they could help save the reef. Then, following one child’s suggestion to create a movie musical inspired by the discovery, The Spectacular Find – Saving the Great Barrier Reef was born.

Lights, camera, taking action

The short film became a platform for the children to spread their message about the importance of environmental sustainability and climate change. As Catherine shared, every aspect of the project – from songwriting to costume designing, scriptwriting to crafting backdrops – was meticulously planned and executed by the children themselves. The preschoolers collaborated with Peter Morgan from Peter Morgan Music 4 Children, a good friend of the service, who happily served as musical director to support their songwriting.

The premiere was an exciting occasion for The Point Preschool. More than 100 members of the local community attended the event to celebrate the children’s achievement and advocacy. The service also donated $360 in ticket sales to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which the organisation used to plant coral on the reef.

In recognition of the children’s innovative project and approach, the preschool was awarded the prestigious NSW Little Scientist 2022 Early STEM Award and the Sustainable Organisations for the Sutherland Shire Community Leader Award.

Spreading awareness

The children’s achievements don’t stop there. Word about The Spectacular Find – Saving the Great Barrier Reef has spread across the globe, providing Catherine with the opportunity to deliver presentations on the movie and musical.

Most recently, the service director spoke about the children’s project at the 2024 World Forum on Early Care and Education in Vancouver, Canada. The short film was also shown at the Tiny Film Festival, held as part of the forum.

“These articles and presentations showcase the children’s love of the Great Barrier Reef and their vision to spread the word about climate change and encourage others to be advocates for our planet,” shared Catherine, who is deeply proud of the children’s advocacy.

Sustainability – a shared effort

Environmental sustainability has long been embedded in The Point Preschool’s service practice and premises, which has a carbon negative rating. Staff and children take every opportunity to make a big difference, from using collected rainwater for watering plants to composting, sharing resources with community, and reducing waste by reusing and recycling materials where possible.

The service has been volunteering as BushCare volunteers for 18 years at Green Point Reserve located next to the preschool, where they help care for Country and local wildlife.

The service also uses a solar power and battery system to reduce its carbon emissions. In late 2023, The Point Preschool was awarded an IEU Environmental Grant, which has enabled the service to join the Solar Schools community and install an additional energy meter. The meter is a valuable educational tool for children and families to understand energy usage and efficiency, which Catherine hopes will encourage them to start their own journey to becoming carbon negative – and climate positive – at home.

Catherine encourages services to connect and work in partnership with their local communities, Aboriginal Elders, children, families and educators to explore what sustainable changes can be made. Reflecting on the definition of sustainability in the national Approved Learning Frameworks can provide a provocation for bigger projects to take place.