World Bee Day🐝

World Bee Day explorations continued throughout the curriculum today, and our story time session featured the story, “Down the Road, Little Bee”. 🐝📚

The story was used as a learning tool, along with The Awabakal Seasonal Calendar and the internet search engine, google to learn about the process of pollination, Australian flora, seasonal changes on Country and the local Awabakal Language. For example, the Awabakal word for Wattle is Watalong (What-a-Long), Wattle comes to life during the Winter, is a native tree that has always been here and it was used by the Awabakal people for many purposes. During our research we also discovered that Eucalyptus (gum trees), Waratah’s and Banksia’s are natives, and that Jacaranda’s, Crepe Myrtle, Proteas and Sunflowers were introduced to Australia. Therefore, our local flora is diverse, just like our multicultural community.

🍃During the story and undertaking our research, the children had a lot of fun guessing which plant has always been here (native) and which ones have added value to our gardens (introduced).The children were also able to recall information from the story and share their understandings during our investigations too. For example, “That’s the wattle”, “It’s what-a-long” using the Awabakal word for wattle, “It’s from Australia and I’m from Australia”.

📺📚Overall, the children had the opportunity to participate in a rich and meaningful inquiry-based learning opportunity, engage with the local Awabakal language and gain an insight into seasonal changes and our local environment. (2.3.4;2.3.6;2.3.8;2.3.11)The children will also have the opportunity to follow up on today’s investigations via our National Reconciliation Week art-based project next week too!! I wonder if wisteria’s are natives or introduced?🍃