For teachers
Who is it for?
Clubs is a flexible, learner-centred programme designed for Y2-10 students eager to dive deep into a specific interest.
While open to all, neurodivergent students often find Clubs particularly engaging as they can explore their passions and connect with peers across NZ. This helps boost engagement and builds social and emotional skills.
Most Clubs have versions tailored for both Tamariki and Rangatahi.
What Can Students Do in Clubs?
So much! Whether solo or with friends, there’s something for every curious mind.
Kids can work by themselves …
Jump into a fun, hands-on activity and “think like” a scientist, designer, or other expert.
TRY A TASTER
Access top-notch tutorials tailored for Kiwi kids to go deeper in their passion areas.
BUILD SKILLS
Take on cool challenges and earn a Badge!
EARN BADGES
Step-by-step resources help students plan and develop their own ideas.
CREATE
A PROJECT
Mini-challenges keep kids on their toes!
TAKE ON
BONUS CHALLENGES
Or with others all over New Zealand …
Like Reddit for kids! Share work, get feedback, and connect with others in a safe, moderated space.
JOIN
THE STREAM
Work on a joint project with Clubmates.
COLLABORATE
Live talks and discussions each term with experts and older students on a huge range of topics.
ACTIVATION
WEEK
Meet ups online with Clubmates to share ideas and get to know each other better.
CLUBHOUSE WEEK
Check out examples of all these activities here
What benefits does it have?
Clubs helps busy teachers meet the needs of curious, sparky learners who need more than standard curriculum work.
Clubs impacts
Identity-Affirming Peer Connection
Clubs gives students – especially neurodivergent, homeschooled, and gifted learners – access to like-minded peers, helping them feel seen, heard, and understood.
Students repeatedly described the joy of “finding people who think like me” and being around others who “understand the words you say.” This sense of belonging is powerful for learners who often feel isolated in their regular environments.
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Boosts self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.
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Builds confidence to share work, take risks, and express themselves.
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Enables social learning in a safe, affirming space.
Social & emotional skills
Students deeply value the opportunity to share their work, receive feedback, and learn from each other in Clubs’ stream environment.
Across interviews, students said they loved seeing what others were doing, leaving comments, being inspired by peers, and feeling proud when someone noticed their post. This interaction helps normalize sharing, models what’s possible, and creates a ripple effect of creative confidence.
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Encourages feedback literacy and positive communication.
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Helps students feel seen and celebrated by peers.
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Fosters a collaborative, generative learning culture.
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Collaboration on shared passions - like writing a story together or working on a DnD campaign
Passion-Driven Learning & Intrinsic Motivation
Clubs fuels curiosity by letting students explore personal interests in a way that feels meaningful, flexible, and student-led. This can spark real-world action by helping students discover and deepen their interests—sometimes leading to new life goals, creative projects, and future study pathways.
Students aren’t completing tasks for extrinsic rewards—they're doing them because they’re interesting, challenging, and fun. Whether it's designing a game map, researching mushrooms, or creating a custom dictionary, learning is purposeful and joyful.
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Encourages deep thinking and creativity.
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Builds project skills and self-direction.
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Supports unschooling and inquiry-based education models.
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Connects school-like learning with real-life impact.
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Helps students build identity through passion.
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Interests grow into purpose: art, writing, reading, activism, design, science, and more.
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Students take real-world action — writing to councils, launching projects, learning new languages
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Builds confidence to share ideas, take risks, and lead.
Challenge & Cognitive Stretch
Clubs provides accessible, non-graded challenges that push students to try new things, develop their thinking, and apply their strengths.
Students valued activities that were “quick but challenging,” appreciated tasks that “made me think,” and kept returning for inspiration even when not required to. Clubs becomes a "boredom buster" and "brain stretch" when school isn't enough.
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Offers cognitive challenge without pressure or perfectionism
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Encourages experimentation and iterative thinking.
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Encourages deep, independent learning through creative, open-ended tasks.
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Supports asynchronous, self-directed exploration across disciplines.
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Ideal for learners who “already know the curriculum” and need more.
How do teachers use it?
Clubs is a versatile, teacher-friendly programme. It is FREE for NZ students, thanks to Ministry of Education funding.
In-class extension
Use Clubs as an extension for students who’ve completed their curriculum work.
Homework extension
Encourage students to explore Clubs at home and support parental involvement.
Extension programmes
Integrate Clubs into your school’s extension programmes to connect students with peers across NZ.
Passion Projects / Genius Hour / Talent Time
Use Clubs to support these in-school programmes with resources, tutorials, and project planning tools.
Your role as a teacher
Your role is to guide students in developing and monitoring their Clubs Plan—a one-page plan outlining the activities they aim to complete over a period you choose.
Clubs are student-driven, allowing flexibility in how activities are tackled. There’s no formal grading (except for Badges), and you’ll review and adjust their plan with them as they go.
We ask for a quick feedback form at the end of each term to track engagement and impact and gather ideas on improving Clubs for everyone.