January 2025
A look into our Primary School Workshops
We brought our school workshops back to our home base at Material Institute’s ‘Botanical’ in Bridgewater, Tasmania for the second half of 2024, offering students hands-on experiences in the kitchen, clay studio, and our Beauty Lab.
Our Southern Primary School Coordinator, Sarah ‘Sharky’ Betts, helps to organise these excursions with our participating primary schools. After the bus arrives, Sharky gathers everyone together for an Acknowledgement of Country and a site safety induction before organising the students into groups for the three activities.
In the pop-up kitchen with our chef Vlad, students learn essential cooking techniques, with each group contributing to a different component of the day’s shared meal. The menu this term featured Vietnamese rice paper rolls, soba noodle salad, and crispy Korean pancakes. Many hands were chopping and wrapping all day to create the vibrant, delicious rainbow lunch.
“I learned that if you're cutting a capsicum that you have to use the fists, like you have to claw it so you don’t cut your fingers.”
— Maisey, Clarendon Vale Primary School
In the clay studio, there’s always a calm, focused energy as students shape their own mugs, carefully sculpting handles, rims, and decorative details. Our Ceramic Artist, Georgie bisque-fires, glazes, and re-fires each piece before returning them to students as a tangible reminder of their creativity and a functional keepsake they can cherish for years to come.
“My favourite activity was pottery because you could make whatever you want and I liked making the mug. I made an octopus ... I was in the first cooking group. We did the rice paper rolls. I tried them at lunch time, I liked it but my favourite part of lunch was probably the noodles. I hadn’t tried them before and I hadn’t tried the avocado. It was good!”
— Ella, Clarendon Vale Primary School
A student observing the blue butterfly pea flower mixing with aloe vera in our Beauty Lab.
Our Beauty Lab has a unique offering for 24 Carrot school students, made possible by holding workshops at Botanical. In term 4, students worked with Bodie, our beauty lab formulator and her assistant Marcia to formulate an After-Sun Skin Jelly, featuring the vibrant blue pea flower, which turns the product a beautiful shade of lavender. Students participated in every step of the process: reading the formula, measuring and combining ingredients, heating the mixture, and bottling the final product. Some couldn’t wait to use their creation, while others were excited to gift it to a special family member.
“I liked the Beauty Lab a lot because we got to come in and make really fun things that we get to keep for like, ever! Which is amazing!”
— Goodwood student, Grade 6
“My favourite activity was all of it! I hadn’t tried any of the food before. I was nervous about trying it but also excited. I think that everyone here is really lucky and I think that they’ve all had a great time, and even the people that work here!”
— Emily, Grade 3, Austins Ferry
Bringing students together at Botanical for our workshops immerses them in experiences that go beyond the classroom. Whether they’re chopping vegetables, shaping clay, or creating their own natural skincare, they’re learning real-world skills: collaboration, creativity, and how to care for themselves and others. These workshops spark curiosity and leave students with something lasting: a meal they helped prepare, a mug they’ll use, and a product they proudly made from scratch.
“Students were focused and engaged with each task. They asked thoughtful questions and wanted to know and learn more. Hands-on tasks are always wonderful learning experiences, and this was no exception ... Being my first visit to Botanical I went without expectations and I was so amazed at the options of activities and how the cooking groups worked as three clear elements to provide a delicious lunch for everyone. The students had a brilliant day, and I know they'd love to visit again in the future.”
— Teacher, Springfield Gardens Primary School
Students from Goodwood Primary school cutting up vegetables for their lunch.
