Native Treasures

1. Native Treasures Abby Whitehead

3. Unit Target Grades 3-4 (9-10 years)

5. What is my identity? Essential Question

7. Unit Questions • How do Australians define their identity? • Why should we value our native wildlife? • What makes Australia unique?

9. Content Questions What animals are native to Australia? • What do you know about Australian native animals? • What are the qualities of different types of native animals? • Where in Australia can these native animals be found? • What is a habitat? • What are the various types of habitats that native Australian animals occupy? What is an endangered species? • Which native animals are endangered? • How did these animals become endangered? • What is meant by the term extinct? • Which native animals are extinct?

11. Content Questions cont… How are Australia’s native animals being protected? • Why do these animals need to be preserved? • What are some services that dedicate themselves to wildlife protection?

13. What curriculum / syllabus outcomes will my Unit target? Area of Study: Humanities, Society and its Environment Stage 2 Units of NSW K-6 Curriculum Units : “Australia – You’re Standing On It” and “State and National Parks” This unit provides students with opportunities to explore natural, heritage and built features of Australia, groups associated with these features and the management and care of these features. Outcomes : * comparing natural features of Australia with other locations in the world * Evaluating the necessity of caring for and conserving a feature, place or site * Identifies the consequences of using features and sites in different ways * Investigate and describe natural features of Australia * Give their opinion of how and why they value these features of Australia, through spoken and written discussion

16. Resources Popular storybooks Posters of Australian wildlife Brochures of Australian wildlife parks and zoos Australian Maps Guest Speaker (eg. Parks Ranger or Wildlife Warriors Ambassador) Background Information Sheets – Australian animals, endangered species and extinct species Computer and Internet access – Encarta, online encyclopedia Puppets

17. Proposed Activities Storybook Reading The unit will be introduced during scheduled reading time. An Australian storybook, such as “Koala Lou” will be read to the children, accompanied by a koala puppet. The children will be introduced to the concept of native animals and begin to identify native animals familiar to them. Music and Song Throughout the unit children will have the opportunity to express themselves and experiment with creative movement. Popular Australian children’s songs, such as those by Don Spencer or Peter Combe, will be sung and accompanied with creative movement. This music will be related to the unit topic and will provide opportunity for self expression, defining body awareness and gratification.

18. Proposed Activities Construction of a Brochure Following discussion and investigation of the types of native Australian animals, children will be required to design and produce a brochure. The brochure will advertise a Wildlife Park, in which the children are required to outline its features and the animals (including their qualities) that can be viewed there. Visit to local Wildlife Park Children will take part in a field trip to a local wildlife park. There they will have the opportunity to view and appreciate animals that have been the topic of prior class discussion.