29th September Goose Day

Goose Day, also known as Michaelmas Day (the Feast of St Michael) has its roots in Medieval England when geese were used to pay the rent.

Goose was traditionally served on this day as a lucky charm to ensure wealth and prosperity through the colder months. If you had goose for dinner, you were *golden* for winter. 

While it was once seen as a symbol of good fortune, today we know that factory farming can be less than kind to our feathered friends. 

Geese are more than just honking birds.
There are many reasons to appreciate geese.

1. • Geese are highly intelligent animals. They have excellent memories and are known for their problem-solving abilities.
2. • Geese are very social creatures that form strong bonds with their family members and flock mates. Geese mate for life and are fiercely protective of their families. When they find their goose soulmate, they’re in it for the long waddle.
3. • These birds are incredibly resilient, thriving even in cold climates.
4. • Geese play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by grazing on aquatic plants and spreading seeds, helping to maintain healthy wetlands and grasslands.
5. • Ever noticed how geese fly in a V-formation? This clever strategy reduces air resistance and conserves energy, showcasing their teamwork and cooperation.
6. • Geese are natural watchdogs. They’ve been used for centuries to protect everything from farms to military outposts. They were even used by the Romans to guard their temples!
7. • Need a natural lawnmower? These birds will happily keep your grass and weeds in check, without the need for electricity or harmful chemicals.
8. • Goose eggs are larger and richer in flavour compared to chicken eggs, perfect for a gourmet omelette.

There are lots of stories about geese. The ones from fairytales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and The Ugly Duckling. And others such as The Golden Goose  and Goose Girl, both from Brothers Grim and Honk, Honk! which is based on  a Russian folktale.

 

There are stories where a goose fears for its life because of a  fox.

There are picture book series about geese eg.

• Goose  by Laura Wall

• Duck and Goose  by Tad Hills

• Gossie by Olivier Dunrea

• Suzy Goose  by Petr Horacek

• Katerina by Judith Kerr

Books based on the children's game:

Old favourites:

Ones with rhyming vocabulary:

Some easy chapter books:

And of course some nonfiction:

26th September World Cassowary Day

The cassowary is a large, flightless bird that roams across the Southern Hemisphere, making appearances in countries like Papua New Guinea, parts of Indonesia, and Australia. It’s in the same club as emus and ostriches when it comes to heavyweight avians.

These birds are built like athletes, boasting strong legs for defensive kicks, impressive leaps, and sprint speeds. They also sport formidable claws, handy for self-defence and digging up fallen fruits.

What truly sets cassowaries apart, though, is their striking appearance. With a bright blue head, red wattle, and a black body covered in hair-like feathers, they’re a visual spectacle. But the cherry on top is their individual “helmet.”

Cassowaries are most active at twilight and are notoriously tricky to track due to their solitary lifestyle and dense rainforest homes. You can find them in various habitats like beaches, mangroves, and rainforests.

The cassowary is considered the most dangerous bird in the world!

Its population is about 4,000 in Australia due to habitat loss, car accidents, and dog attacks. Thus, there is an urgent need to draw attention to their role in the local ecosystem and the need to protect them. For example, cassowary spreads seeds of rainforest trees, supporting forest regeneration!

Once when students asked me for a cassowary book, I had to admit we didn't have any, but we do now!

24th September World Wasp Day

Everybody knows that bees have a crucial role in nature, but did you know that wasps are as essential? This day aims to restore the wasps' battered reputation. The most essential service provided by wasps is pest control. Indeed, they are predators hunting flies, caterpillars, and spiders as a source of protein.

Wasps generally have a bad reputation. In Australia this villainous status is largely based on an introduced species, the European wasp, which is a nasty pest, and certainly knows how to ruin a good picnic or barbecue.

But did you know that Australia is also home to more than 12,000 native wasp species? And just like our beloved bees and butterflies, they are important pollinators – and who doesn’t love a pollinator? They also play a critical role in our environment as both predator and prey. Katrina Germein and Suzanne Houghton's book Wonderful Wasps is a great way to learn about Australia's wasps.

There's not a lot of other books about wasps in the library, but some of these may help.

4th - 10th October World Space Week

World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events:

• October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration
• October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.    

For World Space Week (WSW) 2025, the chosen theme is “Living in Space.” This theme explores humanity’s journey toward making space a habitat, emphasizing the innovative technologies, challenges, and collaborative efforts that make this vision a reality.

The students I teach like to read about space, especially astronauts, so I would make a display that includes nonfiction and fiction as well as some easy chapter book series.