Looking for free activities to keep your kids busy during the holidays? Reading is not only a fantastic way to entertain children but also to build literacy, social skills, and creative thinking. Future You’s Imagining the Future series offers an engaging way to combine fun, learning, and imagination—all from the comfort of home.
Why reading matters in STEM
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects are vital for preparing kids for the future, but strong reading comprehension is just as important. Why? Because reading helps students process complex STEM concepts, decode technical vocabulary, and think critically. Whether they’re building a robot or solving equations, confident readers can approach challenges with creativity and confidence.
Reading also sparks curiosity and imagination—essential for innovation in STEM careers like computer science, engineering, or even space exploration. By nurturing these skills now, you’re helping your child build a foundation for future success.
Imagining the Future: Free stories with a STEM twist
Future You’s Imagining the Future series takes kids on an exciting journey to the stars! These free stories are written by renowned Australian authors.
- Far Out! by Lili Wilkinson
- Calculating Apple Pie by Melissa Keil
- Semper by Rebecca Lim
- Proof by Gary Lonesborough
- Earthbound by Alison Evans
Readers explore life on Jupiter’s moon, Calypso, and beyond. With diverse characters reflecting Australia’s rich population, every child can see themselves in these thrilling adventures.
Available in audio, PDF, and audiovisual formats, the stories ensure accessibility for all learners. They’re accompanied by a free activity matrix, designed to extend learning through Bloom’s Taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences framework.
Home activities that inspire learning
In addition to reading, the activity matrix offers creative home activities to keep kids engaged. Whether it’s brainstorming how to entice families to sign up to live on a distant moon or imagining their own futuristic invention that will improve space exploration, these activities spark curiosity while keeping kids busy during the holidays.
The Future You team also partnered with the Australian Space Agency to create an Imagining the Future: Careers in Space booklet, which deep dives into the careers explored in each of these stories.
How to get started
All Imagining the Future stories and activities are completely free. Download them now to inspire your child’s imagination, boost their literacy, and explore STEM themes in fun, interactive ways.
Keep kids entertained and learning with free activities for kids during holidays. Whether they’re reading about space or engaging in hands-on projects, these resources are the perfect way to balance fun and education at home.