Learning resources
Resources and activities for the classroom
The Opera House’s learning resources provide inspirational activities to watch, listen and read for students in the classroom or learning at home. Written with your classroom in mind, they’re packed with practical, creative activities designed to provoke ideas and enrich your students’ learning.
Explore Learning Resources or Stream, read & listen by subject.
Learning Resources
Architecture Meets Nature
A creative learning workshop following Sydney Opera House’s architect Jørn Utzon’s designs and his inspiration from natural forms, students create building models inspired by nature to combat climate change.
Dance and Architecture
Dance and Architecture uses biomimicry and connections between the engineering of a building and human body to explore choreography, collaboration, the body in public places.
Dissecting Geometry
Dissecting Geometry explores the design principles used across maths, sculpture, architecture, engineering when building the Opera House. Students work collaboratively and problem-solve to produce new abstracted versions of the building.
Moss Piglet
Playful and thrilling, Moss Piglet is an epic new work for students about how even the tiniest of things can be the strongest. Tardigrades… perhaps you’ve heard of them?
Stories from the Reef
Stories from the Reef enables students to use storytelling and drama-games to learn about science, sustainability, urban Harbour habitats and biodiversity.
What the Ocean Said
What the Ocean Said enables students to experience dreamy electronic music and animation, creative writing and mindfulness, understanding of landscape, habitats and non-human life.
The Sydney Opera House Play Award
An annual award for a school, learning program, class or an individual student or teacher, who has made a remarkable and ongoing contribution to ‘play in learning’ with demonstrated positive impacts.
Stream, read & listen by subject
DanceRites Deadly Moments
For almost 10 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have travelled to Sydney to take part in Sydney Opera House’s various First Nations Festivals and our principal Festival now known as DanceRites.
Outlines: Beyond Black - AI captures human motion data to make new choreography | Behind the Scenes
In Beyond Black, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC) challenges the fundamental elements of the creative process, by employing artificial intelligence to choreograph a new work.
Dancing to de-feet Parkinson’s
There’s still a lot that's unknown about Parkinson’s disease. But as research progresses, dance stands out as a form of exercise helping to control symptoms and giving strength to those living with the condition.
The importance of rhythm as a storytelling tool in performance | INFUSION Cast Talk
Rhythm is a universal concept, but it can have a whole different meaning when incorporated into storytelling. Join the cast of Infusion for a closer look at the importance of rhythm in performance.
Gumboot Dancing
Who would have thought that the humble gumboot would be the central piece of a fun and sonic South African tradition?
Eternal History: the story of First Nations theatre at the Sydney Opera House.
Since its opening in 1973 the Opera House has carried a deeper legacy, one that embraces, challenges and celebrates Australian culture. But what of Australia’s First Peoples and First Nations culture?
Using Creativity in the Classroom
Creative Leadership in Learning (CLIL) is an immersive program for schools that uses the artistic and creative resources of the Sydney Opera House to explore creativity as a teaching technique. The Sydney Opera House has designed a dynamic and teachable creativity framework that forms the basis for a 3-year partnership with schools.
Liverpool Boys High rewrites the school curriculum with creativity
Principal Mike Saxon and his students are changing the way we learn.
Lansvale Public School Boat of Dreams
Students from Lansvale Public tell history and humour with musician Luke Escombe. As part of our Creative Leadership in Learning program, Luke collaborated with the students to co-create two songs; 'Boat of Dreams' and 'Asian Supermarket' in a celebration of their identity.
Yarning Country | Curated by Rachael Hocking
Join some of our most creative voices, brought together from across the country, as they share stories, memories and songs. Curated by Warlpiri woman Rachael Hocking; this is a night for dance and laughter, spirit and survival, community, creation and love. Welcome to country by Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, music from DRMNGNOW, readings by poet Jeanine Leane and words from Uncle Vic Simms.
Meet Julie Vivas, illustrator of Possum Magic
Drawing inspiration form the world around her, listen to Possum Magic illustrator Julie Vivas talk about the process behind her beautiful drawings.
How to draw Possum Magic with illustrator Julie Vivas
Ever wondered how Australia’s favourite possums were drawn? Take a look at the creative process behind the iconic characters of Hush and Grandma Poss, with the illustrator of Possum Magic, Julie Vivas.
The importance of rhythm as a storytelling tool in performance | INFUSION Cast Talk
Rhythm is a universal concept, but it can have a whole different meaning when incorporated into storytelling. Join the cast of Infusion for a closer look at the importance of rhythm in performance.
Whispers: Megan Cope
On Tubowgule, now called Bennelong Point, Quandamooka artist Megan Cope introduces Whispers, a melding of First Nations history and environmental consciousness. In this artwork, commissioned for our 50th anniversary, more than 85,000 oyster shells are positioned across the Sydney Opera House precinct. The artist evokes the ancestral midden sites that were used on this site for Aboriginal celebrations and gatherings for thousands of years.
Ziggy Ramo “Little Things” feat. Paul Kelly
In a cinematic journey tracking forward and backwards in time, Ziggy Ramo makes his directorial debut with the music video for his new single “Little Things” feat Paul Kelly.
Yarning Country | Curated by Rachael Hocking
Join some of our most creative voices, brought together from across the country, as they share stories, memories and songs. Curated by Warlpiri woman Rachael Hocking; this is a night for dance and laughter, spirit and survival, community, creation and love. Welcome to country by Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, music from DRMNGNOW, readings by poet Jeanine Leane and words from Uncle Vic Simms.
DanceRites Deadly Moments
For almost 10 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have travelled to Sydney to take part in Sydney Opera House’s various First Nations Festivals and our principal Festival now known as DanceRites.
Guwanyi Walama
Join our Indigenous narrators on a journey into the history and culture of Bennelong Point in this digital tour created especially for kids!
Learning from Country: An Indigenous design perspective
Wailwan/Kamilaroi man Jefa Greenaway was the first Indigenous architect to be registered in Victoria. Speaking as part of Antidote panel Resetting the World, Greenaway writes on why it's more critical than ever we infuse Indigenous perspectives into our design thinking.
Interesting facts about Sydney Opera House
Find out 15 interesting facts about the Sydney Opera House that you never knew.
Conserving and celebrating our heritage
We are transforming the building for future generations while respecting and preserving the very features that make it unique.
Renewing an icon
Inside the Sydney Opera House’s ten-year plan to renew the building for future generations of artists, audience and visitors.
50 years of extraordinary moments
From Ella Fitzgerald to Bon Iver, Dance Rites Festival to Nelson Mandela’s address from the steps, the Opera House and the extraordinary experiences on our stages reflect our contemporary culture.
Guwanyi Walama
Join our Indigenous narrators on a journey into the history and culture of Bennelong Point in this digital tour created especially for kids!
Arty Farty
Our podcast series Arty Farty – A Podcast for Kids has been created especially for Kid Creatives. We’re excited to share special moments, insights, tips, tricks and more from kids themselves, and creative types who appear here at the House.
Ziggy Ramo “Little Things” feat. Paul Kelly
In a cinematic journey tracking forward and backwards in time, Ziggy Ramo makes his directorial debut with the music video for his new single “Little Things” feat Paul Kelly.
The importance of rhythm as a storytelling tool in performance | INFUSION Cast Talk
Rhythm is a universal concept, but it can have a whole different meaning when incorporated into storytelling. Join the cast of Infusion for a closer look at the importance of rhythm in performance.
George Meets the Orchestra - An Introduction to the Orchestra | Age 3+
Follow George as he chats with players of the Sydney Youth Orchestra and learns all about the four families of the orchestra – strings, brass, woodwind and percussion. A perfect introduction to classical music for kids.
Karen meets the strings family | Age 5+
Learn about the string family and how musical techniques can be used to create mood, character and setting with Karen Pang and musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra on the set of There's a Sea in My Bedroom.
Karen and the composers | Age 5+
Join Karen Pang along with the composers of 'There’s a Sea in My Bedroom' Dr Daniel Blinkhorn and Associate Professor Paul Stanhope as they find out where music comes from, plus learn some fun ways to start your own composition.
International Jazz Day at the Opera House, featuring Herbie Hancock and James Morrison
In celebration of International Jazz Day, 1800 students participated in the ultimate music boot camp with jazz legends including Herbie Hancock, Antonio Hart and James Morrison.
The Artificial Reef Project
Discover what’s living in the water around the Opera House, learn about the project to protect it and ways you can help build a more sustainable future.
Acoustics – Mathematics to Make Your Ears Ring
Are your ears ringing? Deconstruct the science of acoustics and sound with superstar maths teacher Eddie Woo and Mitch Allen, Soundscape Designer from the engineering firm Arup, whose founder worked directly with Utzon on the structure of the Opera House.
The Purity of Geometry
Did you know that the Opera House was almost never built? Maths solved the problem! Find out how geometry and Utzon’s ‘Spherical Solution’ resolved the construction dilemma that the unique design of the arched sails caused with Eddie Woo and Peter Mould, former NSW Government Architect.
Calculating an Impossible Number
Investigate how algebra was used to calculate the exterior tiling of the Opera House sails. Eddie Woo is joined by Ken Kobayashi, a BIM Integration Specialist who has digitally reconstructed the Sydney Opera House using modern computers.
Nature Inspiring Design
What is fractal geometry and how did it help build the Opera House? Learn about how architect Jørn Utzon took inspiration from the natural environment to reflect its the harbourside location of the building with Eddie Woo and Richard Johnson, an architect who worked directly with Utzon.
Building creativity: Modding the Opera House with Minecraft
The case for education and creative learning in online video games.
The Artificial Reef Project
Discover what’s living in the water around the Opera House, learn about the project to protect it and ways you can help build a more sustainable future.
Draw the House on Demand Modules
Virtually explore the Opera House and its surroundings and experience it through the eyes of an artist. These 4 drawing modules guide you through simple drawing techniques to help you draw spaces around the Sydney Opera House!
The Coburn Tapestries
Discover the famous Coburn tapestries. Learn about the history behind this great Australian story, and get creative with our teacher resources inspired by these iconic works covering Art, Design and Technology, and Textiles curriculum.
Art Assembly 2019 | Jason Phu ‘Procession in the warming light, Procession in the rising darkness
Drawing on artist Jason Phu’s connection to Chinese culture Procession in the warming light, Procession in the rising darkness examines our human responsibility to the environment through a participatory parade and installation inspired by the current global phenomenon of children’s climate strikes, as well as the parades that mark Lunar New Year.
Opera House posters: best of the decade, 1960s to now
Four decades of Australian art and ideas in graphic design.
5 superb Sydney Opera House hats
Hold onto your hats, we're crowning the best buckets and bonnets that pay tribute to the Opera House. Here are our top five spectacular (impractical) Opera House hats.
Meet Julie Vivas, illustrator of Possum Magic
Drawing inspiration form the world around her, listen to Possum Magic illustrator Julie Vivas talk about the process behind her beautiful drawings.
How to draw Possum Magic with illustrator Julie Vivas
Ever wondered how Australia’s favourite possums were drawn? Take a look at the creative process behind the iconic characters of Hush and Grandma Poss, with the illustrator of Possum Magic, Julie Vivas.