Victorian Challenge & Enrichment Series Bin Chicken program has been designed for Year 1-2 high-ability students.  Authors, Kate and Jol Temple, will enthral students by reading a number of stories from their popular Bin Chicken picture book series and answering the students’ questions.  

Following a short break, a hands-on workshop will be conducted using the materials we provide in a posted STEM-in-a-box kit.   Students will participate in a notice & wonder session, label adaptive bin chicken body parts,  design their own mini recycling bin, play a rubbish classification game, dance to a Wiggles song, and finally make their own bin chicken models.

IMPORTANT PREPARATION DETAILS:

1. Available Dates: 3^rd September and October 15^th 2026.  These are repeated sessions, so please book one date only.
2. There are limited numbers of tickets available.  Only ONE ticket of up to 25 high ability students per school for each event. 
3. Program flyer VCES Bin Chicken

How to book your group

1. Book your students into one of the sessions NOT both.
2. Tickets can be booked using the booking form on this website (NOTE: one class is for a group of up to 25 students)
3. Download and complete the attached Student details  spreadsheet and email this through to ecolinc@education.vic.gov.au

After your booking is confirmed

Please download the parental invitation and student nomination forms and distribute them to the families of the students.

• VCES Student Nomination Form
• VCES Parent Info

The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) is an initiative funded by the Victorian Government to extend and engage high-ability students across the state. The series provides opportunities for students from Foundation to Year 12 in Government Schools to participate in enrichment learning experiences that challenge their thinking, build advanced skills, and encourage creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. Delivered by specialist organisations and education providers, VCES programs immerse students in authentic, real-world learning beyond the classroom.

• Year Level: Year 1-2
• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes

Yes, a kit of resources will be sent to your school

No prior knowledge is required.

In this video conference students will:

• Develop an ecological understanding of how the Australian white ibis has adapted to survive in urban environments
• Strengthen scientific observation skills by using structured ‘notice & wonder’ thinking routines to investigate images and models of the ibis
• Recognise key physical adaptations by labelling body parts of the ibis and explaining how these features help it find food and survive
• Build early environmental literacy by sorting and classifying waste materials according to recycling and waste categories
• Apply design thinking by creating and testing a small recycling bin system that encourages responsible waste disposal
• Express ideas creatively through movement, model-making, and storytelling inspired by the Bin Chicken Series
• Collaborate and communicate by sharing ideas, asking questions of authors, and participating in group challenges

In this video conference students will:

• Participate in a book reading and ask the authors questions about the writing process, characters and inspiration behind books
• Work with diagrams and models, labelling body parts and discussing how each feature helps the ibis find food, and move through wetlands and urban spaces
• Use materials from a STEM-in-a-box kit to design and decorate a mini recycling bin
• Play a classification game matching images of waste to appropriate the bins
• Participate in a short movement break by dancing along to the Bin Chicken Song by ‘The Wiggles’
• Construct their own bin chicken model using craft templates and materials provided

Science – Biological Sciences

• Plants and animals have external features that perform different functions to enable their survival; in plants these features include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, bulbs, trunks and branches while different features in animals enable them to move, breathe, eat and respond to their environment VC2S2U03
• Plants and animals have basic needs, including air, water, food and shelter; the places where they live meet those needs VC2S2U02

Science – Processing, modelling and analysing

• Data and information can be sorted and ordered using provided tables and organisers, and visual or physical models, to show simple patterns VC2S2I04

Science – Evaluating

• Observations can be compared to predictions and the observations of others, which may lead to further questions being identified VC2S2I05

English – Text structure and organisation

• Understand that texts can take many forms, such as signs, books and digital texts  VC2EFLA03
• Understand concepts about print in print and digital texts, including how books and simple digital texts are usually organised VC2EFLA04

English – language for expressing and developing ideas

• Explore the contribution of images. words and sound to meaning in stories and informative texts VC2EFLA07

English – Literature and contexts

• Discuss experiences that are similar or different to their own by engaging with literary texts by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and illustrators and a wide range of Australian and world authors and illustrators VC2EFLE01