3rd November World Numbat Day

The numbat is one of those unique Australian animals. I know we have so many and this is not one that students generally know a lot about, so why not celebrate World Numbat Day? This website tells students what they need to know and shows them visually what makes them special. As well look for these in your school library  to use for a display and student reading.

8th - 12th October Cephalopod Awareness Days

'Every year from the 8th to the 12th of October, International Cephalopod Awareness Days come around to teach the world about cephalopods. This event is all about celebrating and sharing how fascinating and incredible they are!

Cephalopods are a class of marine invertebrates that are easy to recognize by all their arms and tentacles. They are part of the Phylum Mollusca, which means they’re related to other animals with soft bodies and shells, like snails and clams. Unlike the other molluscs, though, cephalopods have large brains and are known for their intelligence. Cephalopods are also interesting because they have three hearts and blue blood. They have highly developed eyes, and they have an amazing ability to camouflage because their skin can quickly change color and texture.'

Each of the days is designated:

October 8 – Octopus Day, for all the eight-armed species

October 9 – Nautilus Night, a time for all the lesser-known extant cephalopods

October 10 – Squid Day/Cuttlefish Day, or Squidturday, covering the tentacular species

October 11 – Myths and Legends Day, for all the fantastical cephalopods of movies, literature and legend. Release the Kraken!

October 12 – Fossil Day (to coincide with National Fossil Day), for all the incredible suckers that have gone extinct.

Kindergarten's unit of enquiry this term is to do with the sea, so there isn't anything left in my library to display, but if I could these books would be there to borrow:

Two that I especially like are new and they do what a lot of good nonfiction for younger children does so well. Look for Octopuses One to Ten by Ellen Jackson and Robin Page and Octopus Escapes Again by Laurie Ellen Angus.
And I would really like to see this one, Giant Squid because I am a fan of Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann and I'm sure it will be good.

We have a lovely octopus toy so I will need to do this display at some time earlier in the year.

P.S. Why do we spell molluscs with a 'c' and Americans put a 'k' so it is mollusks?

SaveSave
SaveSave

11th May Hairy-Nosed Day

It is Hairy-Nosed Day, a day when we think about the plight of the Hairy-nosed wombat.

This week as I wandered past a remainder book store I saw Hairy Nose Itchy Butt for five dollars and thought I must get the library's copy off the shelf and give it to one of the Kinder teachers because they are studying Australian animals at the moment, and then I walked into my local bookshop and found a new book - The Hairy-Nosed Wombats Find a New Home by the wombat-loving Jackie French and Sue deGennaro. In the foreword and the notes at the back of this book Jacqui Mills the Director of the Wombat Foundation tells the reader that the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat is 'one of the world's rarest species - it is rarer than the Giant Panda.'

The story then is a charming picture book for young children about the endangered hairy nosed wombat and their search for a new home.  Once upon a time, deep underground, there was a colony of wonderfully whiskery wombats who all had hairy noses. They lived in the only home for Hairy-nosed wombats in the world. Could there ever be another home for Hairy-noses?  The story is based on the reality of how finding a happy new home for Hairy-nosed wombats helped one of the world's most endangered species to breed and thrive again. All the author royalties are being donated towards wombat research and care.


Author Jill Morris has also written at length about these wombats in her three picture books about the Hairy- nosed wombat, Harry the Hairy-nosed Wombat; Wombat Down Below! and  The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars.

This certainly is enough books to share with young children in order to convince them that these rare animals are worth saving and celebrating.

The background information and teaching resources to go with the plight of the Northern Hairy-nosed wombat can be found here and although this article is about Southern Hairy-nosed wombats, it has some wonderful photos and is worth discussing with a class.