Coding For A Cause: Primary 5 Students Tackle Global Challenges with VR

Primary 5 students used VR to propose creative solutions to global issues like climate change and hunger, building coding and critical thinking skills along the way.

Last updated on 26 August 2026

Coding For A Cause: Primary 5 Students Tackle Global Challenges with VR

A CoBlocks coding platform showing 3D characters in a town scene with block-based code for character dialogues.

Our Primary 5 students recently embarked on an exciting journey into the world of technology and social impact through the JA Fun with AR/VR Coding Programme. In partnership with JA Singapore, this programme empowers students to combine their passion for coding and design thinking to address real-world issues outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through interactive sessions, students gained hands-on experience using CoSpaces Edu to build Virtual Reality (VR) worlds, learning the fundamentals of coding and design. They delved into the pressing global challenges addressed by the SDGs, sparking critical thinking and innovative solutions. Collaboratively, students identified SDGs they felt strongly about and crafted immersive VR presentations to showcase their inventive ideas.

Children work on laptops at tables in a classroom with a projected screen showing a car race activity.

Students work on laptops in a classroom while a teacher stands near a projected presentation screen.

Natalie and her team from 5 Topaz tackled the issue of climate action, recognising the urgency to reduce reliance on air conditioners. Their VR world showcased a city brimming with green spaces, particularly on buildings, as a natural cooling solution to combat rising temperatures.

Meanwhile, Ethan and his team from 5 Sapphire also focused on climate action, proposing a shift towards solar energy. Their VR city featured solar panels integrated into every building, harnessing Singapore's abundant sunlight for sustainable electricity.

Audrey and her 5 Sapphire team addressed the goal of zero hunger by designing a network of food drop-off points in neighborhoods. Their VR world vividly illustrated how easily these points could look like, facilitating the sharing of surplus food with those in need.

3D scene editor showing a city plaza with two female characters, large red flowers in a planter, trees, and buildings.

3D animated scene with two characters beside large red flowers in planters, with text about plants and photosynthesis.

3D scene editor showing a yellow bus on a city street with buildings, pedestrians, and a cyclist.

Animated city scene with two characters talking about saving electricity, surrounded by colorful houses and tall buildings.

This programme not only equipped students with valuable coding skills but also helped develop essential 21st-Century Competencies emphasised by MOE, including communication and collaboration skills and critical thinking. Additionally, the project nurtured our students’ adaptability and inventive thinking as they explored novel solutions to global challenges. We are proud of our students’ enthusiasm and the meaningful contributions they have made towards a more sustainable future.

A CoBlocks coding interface showing 3D animated characters gathered around a table with block-based event scripts on the right.