We began investigating the plants, birds and animals found on Kaurna Country and their importance to the Kaurna People. The children in the ELC looked and listened in our outdoor learning environments and went on frequent nature walks around the wider school campus.
Uncle Mickey kindly shared stories and Kaurna names for some of the birds and plants we discovered.
The children expressed their understandings creatively and shared their thoughts and ideas with their peers and educators.
Our thoughts were that we would use the information and understandings that were uncovered to choose an Acknowledgement of Country plaque for our centre.
It became evident quite early on that the birds traversing Kaurna Country held special interest for the ELC children and eventually we distilled our list down to the Rainbow Lorikeet, Crow, Kookaburra, Magpie and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as the short list to choose the image for our plaque.
Each child, our staff members and the parent community were invited to vote, the final choice was the Rainbow Lorikeet – Ngawauka.
Melissa Prest
Mattingley Teacher
