In 2024, Year 4 students created short historical films imagining life aboard the Endeavour from the perspective of fictional crew members. The project began with research and creative writing, inspired by their reading of Captain Cook’s Apprentice by Anthony Hill and a visit to the replica Endeavour at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The boys used generative AI tools to illustrate their narratives, carefully selecting imagery and experimenting with descriptive prompts. They then brought together their writing, narration and visuals using iMovie to produce short films that were both historically grounded and personally expressive.
Alongside exploring story and image-making, the project encouraged thoughtful discussion about the legacy of exploration and the impact of colonisation. Students reflected on Indigenous perspectives and considered how technology shapes the way stories are told.
During the process, the boys also examined the limitations of AI in representing Indigenous people and culture, discussing why some forms of knowledge should not be generated or shared by machines, and how respectful engagement with the past requires care, context and cultural understanding.
The final films were exhibited in a virtual gallery built on a metaverse platform. Links were shared with Year 4 families and author Anthony Hill, who generously joined the Year 4 boys for a Zoom Q&A. He offered feedback on their films and answered questions about writing and researching Captain Cook’s Apprentice, sparking lively and thoughtful discussion.