HPGE Lunchtime Group: AVA Challenge 2026

At Samuel Gilbert PS, our HPGE lunchtime group provide students with opportunities to extend their learning, think creatively and engage in real-world problem-solving. Our AVA Challenge group meets every Tuesday at lunchtime, where students work through a series of STEM missions as part of the Australian Virtual Astronaut Challenge.

In 2026, the AVA Challenge theme is Home on the Moon. Students will explore key technologies and challenges identified by NASA that are needed for humans to live on the Moon. Through a 9-step STEM design sprint, students define a challenge, brainstorm and design a solution, create a prototype, evaluate and improve their design, and communicate their final pitch.

This year’s challenges focus on what we eat, where we live and going outside on the Moon. Students research and learn at their own pace while developing skills in collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication.

We are proud to continue our involvement in the AVA Challenge after Samuel Gilbert PS was highly commended last year and celebrated at the 2025 Young Space Explorers event in Sydney.