The SPECTRA program was introduced to Pennant Hills Public School as an extracurricular activity to help support the science and technology discipline, and more broadly STEM connections, for students in Stage 3. There are currently 35 students of mixed ability completing the program. Throughout their involvement in the SPECTRA program, these students are encouraged to embrace new ideas by means of authentic, open-ended learning experiences, which include researching, testing, observing, trialling and refining ideas. Students meet weekly at lunchtime to present projects, review concepts and provide useful feedback. During these collaborative discussions, many exciting lightbulb moments occur. Students are challenged to expand their thinking or change their approach altogether as they support one another along the journey of scientific discovery.