Hairy nose, itchy butt
This sad story with a funny twist about the hairy-nosed wombat’s journey creates awareness of the plight of Australia’s threatened species.
Animals
Kookoo Kookaburra
This Indigenous morality tale with its vibrant illustrations is a great starting point for observations and talking about scientific language.
A walk in the bush
With its vivid illustrations and descriptions of sounds, this book invites you to explore Australia’s flora and fauna with all your senses.
Fire wombat
The children can immerse themselves into the journey of the wombat who flees the fire, searches for water and eventually finds a way home.
Comparing physiologies: Giant Pacific octopuses
Children can have some interesting perspectives on what is inside them. Cultural perceptions can also make a huge difference. Why not investigate their prior knowledge by starting a conversation about the biology of the Pacific octopus or another sea creature they have studied?
Movement: The dance of the rays
Rays, including manta rays, stingrays and spotted eagle rays move in a particularly graceful way – a swirling dance I will never tire of. Immerse yourself in the children’s classic Commotion in the ocean and you too will fall in love with the movement of the oceans.
Engineering: Sea otters
Who doesn’t love sea otters? And, now I know they have pockets and favourite rocks, I love them even more! Otters are tool users. They select special rocks that are suitable for cracking open clams and molluscs and store these rocks in the baggy pockets of loose skin they have under each forearm. What tools do humans use?
Unique identifiers: Seahorses
Each seahorse has a crown, called a coronet, which is a unique identifier. Just like seahorses can be distinguished by their coronets, humans can be distinguished by their fingerprints. Encourage the children to investigate their own fingerprints and compare them with others’.
Measuring heights: Penguins
There are 17 species of penguin, ranging in height from 20-130cm tall. By measuring and recording heights, children learn skills important for scientific research. They also use criteria for classification and STEM language.