Imagining the Future: Free short stories
Get ready to embark on an incredible journey into the world of space exploration with these free short stories which are part of our STEM-fiction program. Set in the vastness of space, these five interlinked stories delve into different sectors of STEM, offering a captivating exploration of themes like robotics, AI, climate change, and resource management. These diverse characters and engaging plotlines will inspire your students to envision their own STEM careers and become the next generation of space explorers. Did we mention they’re available in PDF, audio, and audio-visual formats to suit all learning styles? So, buckle up and prepare for an exhilarating adventure as we blast off together into the thrilling world of space exploration.
These free short stories will fuel curiosity and ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering and maths that reaches beyond the boundaries of our planet.
Imagining the Future is a story series that helps young people explore science, technology and creativity through storytelling. Each story connects imagination with real-world STEM ideas to show students how curiosity today can shape the world tomorrow.
How It Works
Each title in the series stands alone but connects to a larger world of ideas. Think of it like a library of mini-series, each one exploring a different point in humanity’s exploration of space.
You can start anywhere, or follow a complete storyline from Book 1 onward.
Explore the Stories
The Callistan Cycle
Book 1: 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.
Book 2: Calculating Apple Pie by Melissa Kiel
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.
Book 3: 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?
Book 4: 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.
Book 5: 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.
Far Out!
By Lili Wilkinson
This story explores:
Space
Robotics
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Calculating Apple Pie
By Melissa Keil
This story explores:
Coding
Food fabrication
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Semper
By Rebecca Lim
This story explores:
AI
Mineral exploration
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Proof
By Gary Lonesborough
This story explores:
Waste management
Climate change
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Earthbound
By Alison Evans
This story explores:
Telecommunications
Transport
↪ Read more
Free Activity Matrix
Our Blooms and Gardener’s Activity Matrix brings the five free Imagining the Future short stories to life. Designed for Years 3–6, it links directly to Australian Curriculum: English (v9.0) outcomes—with curriculum codes included—making planning simple. Activities suit a wide range of learners, encouraging deeper thinking and creativity through Bloom’s Taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. 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 classrooms with diverse abilities, it sparks curiosity and builds skills for tomorrow.
Teacher Activity Matrix
Parent Activity Matrix