Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will learn about some endangered species in Australia, understand why they are endangered, and how we can help protect them.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Crayons or colored pencils
• Access to a comfortable space for reading and drawing
• Basic knowledge about a few Australian endangered species (e.g., the Leadbeater's Possum, the Western Swamp Tortoise, and the Orange-bellied Parrot)

Activities

• Story Time: Begin the lesson by reading a short story or fact sheet about Australian endangered species. Choose stories that are engaging and colorful to capture the child's attention.

• Animal Drawing: After the story, ask the student to choose their favorite endangered animal and draw it. Encourage them to use lots of colors and be creative!

• Nature Talk: Discuss why these animals are endangered. Ask the student questions like, "What do you think makes them sad?" This will help them think critically about the issues.

• Help the Animals: Brainstorm together ways to help endangered species. This could include ideas like recycling, planting trees, or spreading the word about protecting animals.

Talking Points

• "Did you know that some animals in Australia are in danger of disappearing? That's called being endangered!"
• "The Leadbeater's Possum is one of the animals that needs our help. It lives in special trees!"
• "Why do you think some animals are endangered? Maybe they don’t have enough food or their homes are being cut down!"
• "We can help these animals! What can we do to take care of them?"
• "Every little thing we do can help! Even talking about these animals is a great start!"