Exploring Australia

Lisa BlairED 417

Social Studies Lesson

• Theme: Exploring Australia• Grade: 2nd • Objective: To learn about the

Australian Culture

Australian Animals A to Z

• Students will create an ABC picture book of animals unique to Australia

• Objective: Students will learn about the animals that are unique to Australia

• Materials: text books, library books, websites, or other resources about Australia, construction paper, markers, animal printouts, scissors, glue

Australian Animals A to Z Lesson

• Lesson: • Discuss background information about animals

that are unique to Australia using text books, library books, websites, etc

• Distribute materials to students and assign 1 letter to every student. The student will find an animal for their letter.

• The students will draw or use pre-cut Australian animals and the students will write a sentence about their animal.

• When the students are finished, the teacher will collect the pages and compile them into a book.

The Great Barrier Reef

• Objective: Students will learn about the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

• Materials: Text books, library books, websites, pictures of the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef Lesson

• Explain to the students what coral is and that the Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef in the world and is off the coast of Australia

• Show the students pictures of the Great Barrier Reef

• Discuss that the Great Barrier Reef is being threatened

• Links:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/coralreef/coralreef.shtmlhttp://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/coral/threats.htm

How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch

• Objective: Students will obtain knowledge about a legend from the Australian culture

• Materials: One copy of the Australian Legend, Kangaroo Gets a Pouch, for each student, paper, and pencils

• Link:• http://

www.planetozkids.com/oban/kanpouch.htm

How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch Lesson

• The class will discuss what a legend is and what they know about kangaroos

• Distribute the Legend and read it together

• Let the students choose parts and act out the Legend

Boomerang Fun

• Objective: Students will learn about and create their own boomerang’s

• Materials: A printout of Boomerang history and how they work for every student, 8x11 ½ inch piece of cardboard for every student, markers, scissors, glue

Boomerang Fun Lesson

• Read about the history of boomerangs together• Follow the directions on how to make a

boomerang from the website below• Links:• http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/trythis

/try11.html

Aboriginal Bark Art

• Objective: To gain knowledge about Aboriginal Culture and Art

• Materials: Information on Aboriginal Art from websites, brown paper bags for every student, tempera paint, paint brushes, Q-tips

• Links:

• www.silverbushmusic.com/barkpain2.html

Aboriginal Bark Art Lesson

• Review information on Aboriginal art using websites and other resources.

• Using brown bags and tempera paint, the students will create their own aboriginal art.

• Links:• www.princetonol.com/groups/lad/lessons/elem/AboriginalBa

rkPainting.htm

Aboriginal Paintings

Additional Links

• www.socialstudies.com• www.education-world.com• www.teacherlink.usu.edu• www.nationalgeographic.com

More Links:

• www.downunderweb.com• www.famie.com/australia/

popularculture.htm• www.oneworldmagazine.org/

gallery/abo/intro.html

Children’s Books about Australia

• Book: Tjarany Roughtail: The Dreaming of the Roughtail Lizard and Other Stories Told by the Kukatja by Gracie Green, Joe Tramacchi, Lucille Gill - Illustrated with dot style paintings

• Book: Koalas and Other Australian Animals (Zoo books Series)

More Books

• The Watering Hole by Graeme Base• Uno’s Garden by Graeme Base

The Vegemite Song

We're happy little VegemitesAs bright as bright can be.We all enjoy our Vegemite

For breakfast, lunch, and tea.Our mother says we're growing

stronger every single week.Because we love our Vegemite.

We all adore our Vegemite.It puts a rose in every cheek!

http://bearessentialsgraphics.com/Aust.htm

Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree

1) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,Merry, merry king of the bush is he,

Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh, Kookaburra,Gay your life must be.

 2) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Eating all the gumdrops he can seeStop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra

Leave some there for me. 

3) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,Counting all the monkeys he can seeStop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra,

That's no monkey, that's mewww.kiddyhouse.com/songs/kookaburra.html

The End