"I'm watching the birds"

I observed a usually energetic and exploratory child Daniel sitting on a chair outside, staring at the hills.  I approached and sat down next to him, "Are you taking a break Daniel?" I asked. "I'm watching the birds" he replied and soon after he excitedly pointed "woah, did you see that?" as a cockatoo flew over the playground. We sat for a few moments watching and hearing the noises of kookaburras, cockatoos, eastern rosella's and magpies.

Several other children came over to see what we were doing.  I noticed all of their necks craning as they followed the birds and asked if they would like to lay down on a blanket and pillows to watch the birds.

Detailed discussions began when the children started asking where the birds live, why they are different colours, how they fly and how they lay eggs.  I  added bird books to the area and we looked at the pictures and discussed some of the theories / science in the books.  The children enjoyed reading the indigenous dream time story 'How the birds got their colours"

Jacob showed a real interest in a scientific picture book about birds and discussed with me how the birds use their wings to fly before standing up and demonstrating

Throughout this experience Daniel, Jacob and Sam shared knowledge of their local community and the native animals that live in it, they hypothesised and strategised while gaining knowledge from books and stories.