Materials
crayons or markers
magazines
newspaper
glue
paper plates
Instructions
Ask teachers, parents, family members, and caregivers if they have
been to Australia. Consider sending a note home with the children, or
post a message on a board for adults to read. If anyone responds, ask
if that person will come to the class and talk about Australia.
1. Read one or more books about Australia with the children (see list to
the left).
2. After reading the books, engage the children in a discussion about
Australia. Talk about the country's unique animals, including the
kangaroo. Show the children pictures of Australian animals, and
challenge the children to identify them.
3. Explain that many of the animals are different in Australia because it is
an isolated country. Ask the children if they have ever seen a kangaroo
at the zoo.
4. Show the children where Australia is on the map or globe. Talk with
the children about Australia's distance from the United States, as well
as its distance from other countries.
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
1. Can the children name various animals native to Australia?
2. Can the children identify Australia on a map or globe?
3. Can the children say what letter the word "Australia" begins and ends
with?
