29/07/2026
Last week, our Echidna and Gecko children visited AIATSIS for a special pilot Storytime session with educator and artist Leah Brideson, who shared the beautiful story, 'Our Birds' by Bronwyn Bancroft. The story introduced children to the rich diversity of Australian birds while exploring their habitats, characteristics, and the important connections between birds, Country, and significance in Aboriginal cultures.
Throughout the story, the children shared their existing knowledge naming familiar Australian birds, cockatoo, rosella, magpie and galah.
Leah created an engaging and interactive experience through storytelling, song, movement, bird identification game, and dramatic play. Children also learned Kamilaroi words, including "Yanana'a" meaning go/stand up and "Maraba" meaning thank you. These experiences supported children's understanding of culture, respect for Country, and appreciation of Australia's First Nations peoples.
On return to UPCCC, our teachers extended the children's learning through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences. The Echidna Preschool children investigated bird nests, exploring what birds use to build their homes. They examined natural materials such as twigs, leaves, pinecones, feathers, and cotton, comparing different nesting materials before creating their own bird nests. These experiences encouraged children to think about how birds care for their eggs and protect their young.
Our Gecko Preschool children continued their inquiry by exploring a variety of Australian bird species. Using bird identification cards, feathers, natural materials, and loose parts, children closely observed the colours, textures, and unique features of different birds before creating their own bird-inspired artworks. These experiences fostered creativity, observation skills, scientific thinking, and meaningful conversations about Australia's incredible birdlife.
At UPCCC, we value extending children's learning beyond excursions by creating opportunities for them to revisit experiences, ask questions, investigate their ideas, make meaningful connections and deepen their understandings through play. We look forward to seeing where this inquiry into Australian birds takes us next
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