The resources and links listed on this page will enhance your nature study lessons for the Australian Nature Study Guide | Volume One.
Book resources and links have been updated since this volume was published in 2018. Should you encounter an expired link, please let us know, and we’ll fix it.
Should you find a resource that will complement any lesson within the guide, be sure to contact us so that we can add it to the list.
We also welcome photographs of your nature study encounters and activities while using this resource. If you would like to share, please send photographs with a note about your experience or activity and I will add them to the Gallery to inspire other families on the same unit.
Table of Contents
Notebook Pages for Volume One ~ Summer/Autumn
Use the notebooking pages below to capture your nature adventures. Keep them in a file or paste them into a nature notebook or journal. There are three levels: Preschool, Lower Primary, and Upper Primary.
Honeybees
Further Exploring:
- The Wonderland of Nature by Nuri Mass, pg. 71-77
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 by Fulbright
Related Internet Links
Literature Jaunt
Fiction
- Little Bee by Edward Gibbs
- Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha and Wojciech Grajkowski
- Are You a Bee by Judy Allen
- The Honeybee by Kristen Hall and Isabelle Arsenault
- Hummy and the Wax Castle by Elizabeth Ernst
- The Honeybee Man by Nela Nargi and Kyrsten Brooker
Non-Fiction
- Honeybees Closeup by Charles Hope
- Honeybees by Emily Neye
- Grow with Me Bee by Kate Riggs
- Insects by Charlie Ogden
Poetry Picnic
The Lily and the Bee by Henry Lawson
A Hymn:
This is my Father’s World by Maltbie D. Babcock lyrics and music.
A Bee Song
Picture Study
Common Thistle and Wild Bees by Edith Holden
Younger Students
Older Students
GALLERY
Blue-tongue Lizard
Further Exploring:
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 by Fulbright
Related Internet Link:
Literature Jaunt:
Fiction
- Lazy Lou Lou by Susannah McFarlane and Lachlan Creagh
- Pink Tongue, Blue Tongue by Mark Gagiero
- Laziest Lizard by Susannah McFarlane
- Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley
Non-Fiction
- A is for Australian Animals by Frane Lessac
- The Book of Australian & New Zealand Reptiles by Charles Hope
- Lizards by Mark O’Shea (Nature Watch)
- Australian Lizards: A Natural History by Steve Wilson
- Summer: Seasons in Australia by Greg Pyers
Poetry Picnic
A Hymn:
Heavenly Sunlight by Henry J. Zelley Lyrics and music.
Picture Study:
Blue Tongue Lizards by Dorothy Djukulul
Older Students:
Create a lizard-friendly garden in your backyard.
GALLERY
Summer Tree Study
Further Exploring:
Exploring Creation with Botany by Fulbright
Related Internet Links:
Literature Jaunt
Fiction
Tuart Dwellers by Jan Ramage
Non-Fiction
- Leaf Litter: Exploring the Mystery of the Hidden World by Rachel Tonkin
- Learn About Trees by Peter Mellet
- DK Backyard Science by Chris Maynard: Tree of Life, pg. 38
Poetry Picnic
A Hymn:
The Tree of Life from the Lutheran Hymnal lyrics and music.
Picture Study
Old Oak Tree by Graham Gercken
Older Students:
Measure the height of the tree. Record the result in the journal and compare it in a year to see how much it grew.
Oldest Students:
- Make a watercolour painting of your tree in the nature journal.
GALLERY
Spotted Grass Frog
Further Exploring
Related Internet Links
Amphibians | Educational Video for Kids
All About Amphibians | Free School
Literature Jaunt
Fiction
- The Tadpole by Young Australia Readers
- Lester and Clyde by James H. Reece
- Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
- The Tale of Jeremy Fisher by Beatrix Potter
Non-fiction
- Australian Frogs: Amazing Amphibians by Jill Morris and Lynne Tracey
- Amphibians by Animal Calcifications
- My Little Book of Life Cycles by Australian Geographic
- Frogs Closeup by Charles Hope
- Grow with Me Frog by Kate Riggs
- Frogs and Toads by Sally Morgan
Poetry Picnic
Frogs in Chorus by Banjo Paterson
A Hymn:
All Creatures Great and Small by Cecil F. Alexander lyrics and music.
Picture Study
A Cool Debate by Louisa Ann Meredith
Older Students:
Alternatively, draw a sketch of a frog or tadpole into your nature journal. Label the anatomy of the frog.
Oldest Students:
Sketch a frog in your journal and write down your observations and facts you’ve learned during this study.
Jacky Winter
Further Exploring
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 by Fulbright
Related Internet Links
Nature Ramble
Listen for their call.
Literature Jaunt
Non-Fiction
- Birds by Animal Classifications
- The Gould League Book of Australian Birds by Don Goodsir & Tony Oliver, 19
- The Book of Australian Birds by Charles Hope
Poetry Picnic
A Bird, came down the Walk by Emily Dickenson
A Hymn:
Great God, the World is Full of Thee by Henry Bateman lyrics.
Picture Study
Spotted Flycatcher by Basil Ede
Young Students:
- Make a nest by gathering grass, bark and string.
- Make a handprint bird like this one. Give it an Australian feel by adding the hot sun instead of snowflakes.
- Make a simple bird feeder.
- Use a toilet paper roll.
- Spread peanut butter all over the outside.
- Roll it in birdseed.
- Place it on a branch and watch birds eat from it.
Older Students:
- Draw the bird into your nature journal. Make a note of the date, time and place you saw it. Identify your bird. Alternatively, add the photo you took of the bird in your journal.
- Build a bird nest using natural materials.
- Draw the anatomy of a bird.
Oldest Students:
- Draw the internal anatomy of a bird.
- Paint a watercolour bird.
Kangaroo Apple
Further Exploring
Kangaroo Apple by Australian National Botanic Gardens
Related Internet Links
Bush Medicine – Kangaroo Apple
Australian Bush Tucker – Kangaroo Apple
Literature Jaunt
Non-Fiction
- Wild Food Plants of Australia by Tim Low, pg. 133
- Seeds by Steffi Cavell-Clarke
- Stems by Steffi Cavell-Clarke
- Flowers by Steffi Cavell-Clarke
- Leaves by Steffi Cavell-Clarke
- Roots by Steffi Cavell-Clarke
Poetry Picnic
A Hymn:
For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliot Sanford Pierpoint lyrics, music and instrumental piece.
Picture Study
Kangaroo Apple by Louisa Anne Meredith.
Young Students:
Use leaves, stems, nuts, seeds and flowers to design an insect, bird or an animal in your leaf art.
Older Students:
Draw a plant and colour each part a different colour. Label the anatomy of the plant.
Oldest Students
- Sketch the leaves, seeds, pods, nuts, stem and fruit of the plant you observed on your walk. Identify the plant and label its segments. Take a peek at this image to give you inspiration. Research the plant for more information and add this to your entry.
- Use the Bush Tucker notebook page to record your observations.
- Practice painting foliage in watercolour.
Bandicoot
Further Exploring
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 by Fulbright
Related Internet Links
- Bandicoot by Backyard Buddies
- Bandicoot by A-Z Animals
- Bandicoots by Office of Environment and Heritage NSW
Bandicoots in the Backyard by ABC
Endangered Animals: Eastern Barred Bandicoot
Poetry Picnic
Benjamin Bandicoot by Banjo Paterson
Older Students:
Draw a bandicoot into your journal and label its anatomy.
Investigate which nocturnal animals live in your state. Present your project in a lapbook.
Oldest Students
Paint a bandicoot into your journal using this technique to paint the fur.
Autumnal Equinox
Further Exploring
Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Fulbright.
Related Internet Links
Equinoxes | National Geographic
What is an Equinox? | WeatherBug Schools
Southern Skies and the Southern Cross | Sixty Symbols
Literature Jaunt
Fiction
- Wish Soup by Rachel Larmer
- Non-Fiction
- Amazing Facts about Australia’s Southern Skies by Doug Welch, pg. 38, pg. 48
- Autumn: Seasons in Australia by Greg Pyers
- Seasons by Peter Riley
Poetry Picnic
Autumn Equinox by Jacqueline C. Nash
A Hymn:
How Great Thou Art by Carl Gustav Boberg lyrics and music.
Picture Study
The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh
Older Students:
Paint Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Oldest Students
Paint Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night.
Emperor Gum Moth
Further Exploring
- The Wonderland of Nature by Nuri Mass, pg. 104
- Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 by Fulbright
- Emperor Gum Moth by Australian Museum
- Moth or Butterfly?
Related Internet Links
Emperor Gum Moth Hatching (Moth emerges at 4:00)
Literature Jaunt
Non-Fiction
- The Usborne Big Book of Bugs by Emily Bone
- Butterflies and Moths by John Farndon
Poetry Picnic
A Hymn:
How Beautiful Heaven Must Be by A. S Bridgewater lyrics and music.
Picture Study
White Stemmed Gum Moth by Harriet Scott
Download the ‘Art of Science’ App for more of the Scott sister’s scientific illustrations of moths and butterflies.
Young Students:
Paint a moth using a method called squish painting.
Older Students:
- Use wire to design the form of a moth.
- Make an origami moth.
Oldest Students:
- Design a moth using string craft. You’ll need:
- A wooded board.
- Small, thin nails.
- String in two colours at least.
- A hammer.
- Paint a moth using watercolour pencils and water brushers as in this tutorial.
Golden Orb Weaver Spider
Further Exploring
Related Internet Links
Golden Orb Spiders | NSW | Australia
Golden Orb Spider | Backyard Birding
Golden Orb Weaving Spiders | Australian Museum
Literature Jaunt
Non-Fiction
- Spiders by Nic Bishop
- Spiders and other Arachnids by Ron Thomas
- Australia’s Most Dangerous Spiders by Australian Geographic
- See Inside Insects & Spiders by Weldon Owen
Poetry Picnic
A Hymn:
Jesus Paid It All by Elivina M. Hall lyrics and music.
Picture Study
Young Students:
Make your own web by threading wool or string around trees and bushes or use a dead branch or stick to weave a smaller web.
WHAT’S NEXT?
AUSTRALIAN NATURE STUDY GUIDE | VOLUME 2
AUSTRALIAN NATURE STUDY GUIDE | VOLUME 3
AUSTRALIAN NATURE STUDY GUIDE | VOLUME 4
Engage your senses on a nature watch walk and become enraptured by the amazing world surrounding you. Forage for mushrooms (or don’t!) and admire their uniqueness. Watch as the leaves turn golden as the season turns chilly and explore ponds for turtles. Learn about Giant Earthworms while digging up your own to investigate. Laugh at the Lyrebird’s version of remixing songs and you’ll be amazed with ancient moss facts. Venture out in the dark to observe possums and enjoy wattles as they begin to blossom.
Appreciate the beauty and complexity in a weed which is just a misplaced flower, then explore the secret world beneath your feet as you learn how trees communicate with one another. Do you know why some caterpillars bungee jump and butterflies tap dance on flowers? Learn about the dragonfly who has impressive aerobatic capabilities and is the fastest flying insect. Shivers will run up your spine as you become acquainted with Australia’s dangerous spiders and reptiles. Did you know cicadas are the loudest insects in the world, bats ‘see’ with their ears and parrots are brainy? Come along with me and let’s study nature together.