Early Learning Centre

Birds of a Feather

Early childhood teachers are very aware of, and responsive to, the importance of supporting children’s environmental understandings. One of the many ways of doing this is to help children connect to their natural world – the world they are interacting with on a daily basis. The Early Learning Centre program reflects the children’s world and therefore it is often influenced by events that transpire from children’s experiences and community interests.

An example of this approach was very evident a month or so ago when a resident kookaburra visited the ELC. There were gasps of excitement from the children as they approached the kookaburra as it sat quietly near the entrance doors. The kookaburra returned day after day and prompted a great deal of discussion about the various birds that nested in the trees and shrubs of PLC. At the same time one of the children found a bird’s nest and brought it into the classroom to share with friends. This provoked robust conversation with many interesting questions. What was the nest made of? How do birds make nests? Are all birds’ nests the same? Can all birds fly? The children’s responses were insightful:

‘Some birds build their nests up high in the tree so the cats can’t get their eggs.’

‘They make nests using sticks and feathers and leaves and soft stuff!’

‘Some birds build their nests in holes in the trees.’

This initial discussion led to extensive investigations about bird life which included walks around the school campus to observe the different birds and their various habitats. Numerous bird paintings were created, bird houses were built from sticks and tanbark, and birds were made using playdough and clay.

Concurrently, the older children were encouraged to participate in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, a community engagement program that is undertaken each October by Birdlife Australia. With great enthusiasm the children headed outside to collect data about the types and number of birds that they could spot within a 20-minute period: ‘I counted six noisy miners’; ‘I saw a little sparrow’; ‘I saw two rainbow lorikeets flying really fast!’ These and many other sightings were then recorded on the group tally sheet for all to see.

The ELC is fortunate to be located on a large site surrounded by extensive gardens; the children enjoy spending large periods of time outdoors experiencing nature first hand. The outdoors at PLC is a wonderful learning space that offers time for investigation, reflection, contemplation and hands-on engagement with the natural world.

Mrs Deborah Hendren Head of Early Learning Centre