Boring facts vs Cool killers

Orcas

The kids didn't really care

about their huge size...

The kids didn't really care

that they have 100 teeth...

The kids didn't really care

that a dorsal fin

can be 1.8m tall...

The kids didn't really care

that orcas belong to  

the dolphin family...

The kids didn't really care

that females can live decades

longer than males...

The kids didn't really care

about anything,

but...

They loved the way orcas can push themselves onto a beach, ganging up and grabbing sea lions on the coast... and then wriggling back into the water.

And, they loved watching orcas tipping ice floes to slide a seal off the ice and into the waiting mouth of another orca.

This, they loved.

Have Pride

The lioness

does most of the hunting,

but the lion

is the first to eat.

Hardly seems fair!

After a fight,

a new male may move in

and take over a pride...

The new male

will kill the cubs

of any other male,

so that only his genes

will carry on... 

Seems a bit harsh!

That huge mane of hair protects him against scratches and bites during fights with other males.

This next lion started out beautifully and then the artist became a little over-excited with the use of charcoal and soon enough, we were left with a black blob...  After some frowns from me, the young artist attacked the black blog with an eraser... and we ended up with a pretty great lion!

Loving all things baby -

the girls drew cubs.

Our classroom is starting

to look like a zoo!

Suits of Black and White

For weeks now, we've been drawing animals.

We've stuck pretty closely to realistic drawings...

But not for the Zebra!

We decided to have a little fun and add some character to the zebra - though some of the kids wanted to stick with their realistic representations.

We mostly used pencil

for these drawings.

The kids are starting to layer up their colours without any prompting from me.

 When they asked for help

with the feet...

they touched on a real

weakness of mine!

I helped them

as much as I could...

and then told them to

hide the feet in long grass! 

They liked that idea!

Someone drew a

giraffe-ish looking zebra -

and I am hoping that

this was deliberate...

quite cartoony,

but I have my doubts!

These were our

Artists of the Week.

Head in the Sand

These were done a while ago...

After camp...

when we were a little tired

from a lack of sleep.

Ostriches...

... in charcoals

and soft pastels.

Out Of Hibernation

It's Grizzly Bear Week.

Some of the kids are still working

 on their art skills -

I am sure one of these bears

 looks like a fruit bat!

We watched a youtube clip of bears standing in a waterfall and snatching salmon as the poor fish jumped up the waterfalls. 

We were inspired!

The kids are confidently

using the art equipment now.

I love how each of them creates something in their own style.  It's been a long time since I last heard "I can't draw.".

 They drew these

from a few photos we had

in the room.

I'm pretty impressed

with them.

Even better,

They're pretty impressed

with themselves!

In the words of

one of my girls:

"That's sick!".

That Stinks!

They’re back.

The stink bugs!

I dread it...

I look into the orange tree

and catch my first glance...

an orange back...

My first stink bug. 

And then I see it...

another one and another one

and another one and ...

thousands of them,

stinking up the place with their vile stench.

If they were friendly

to the tree I’d be happy to put up

with the stink –

but they’re not friendly!

Their sucking and piercing mouth bits

suck the juices from my tiny oranges.

I hear that they can bite, too. 

It will leave an itchy mark on an adult,

possibly harm a child

and make an animal sick.

I also hear that

in some African countries,

stink bugs make it to the dinner table! 

I wish the people could come here

and collect platefuls of dinner

from my tree!

(I’m not overly keen

on trying them myself...

any takers?)

I am a little worried to find

that they also enjoy pears,

apples, plums and grapes...

they may have to be eaten

if they get too carried away

in my garden!

No organic sprays seem to work

and people have tried insecticides –

only to have them all back again

the next year... so,

people have turned to

different methods...

The best –

people grab their vacuum cleaner

and head off to their

stink bug infested trees... 

They suck up all of the bugs

and then toss them into boiling water

or a pot of metho! 

Hehe.

Others shake the bugs from the trees

with a big stick...

Me – I still like cutting them

into pieces with a pair of scissors. 

Today was my first cutting session –

snip snip snip snip.

I’ll get some more tomorrow...

unless someone would like to eat them.

 

pic

Rangas!

 That red hair

Shining

Glistening

It’s International Orang-utan Caring Week

(12^th – 20^th November)

It’s incredibly scary and sad to know

that the orang-utan is on the edge...

It’s very close to extinction.

A few years ago, I stumbled on the

 Australian Orangutan Project’s webpage.

They’re a not-for-profit group.

They look after the rainforest,

work with the community

and rehabilitate orang-utans,

reintroducing them to their natural habitat.

The AOP work with different groups. 

At the moment, there are

over 2000 orphaned orang-utans

in care centres in Borneo and Sumatra.

That’s a lot of babies!

Protecting the rainforests is

the best way to save the orang-utans

 (and all of the animals

living there... tigers, rhinos...).

We’ve ruined 80% of the orang-utans’

rainforest in the last 20 years.

Orangutans are amazingly like us... 

97% of their DNA is the same as ours. 

They have the intelligence

of a 6 year old child. 

They can live for 60 years...

if there is a rainforest to live in.

So...

Could you say “No” to this little face?

He arrived at a rehabilitation Centre

in January 2010. 

He was 6 months old. 

His name is Wigly. 

His mother was young and

unable to care for him,

so he became sick. 

He became very attached to a blanket

and would carry it everywhere,

 crying if anyone took it from him. 

He even falls asleep sucking his thumb!

If Wigly sneaks into your heart

and won’t leave your thoughts

You could adopt him! 

For $55 a year,

you could adopt Wigly.

Several years ago,

I couldn’t say “No” to Roy...

From a young, almost helpless baby,

to an ever increasingly independent

young orang-utan, I have been able

to follow Roy’s progress. 

It seems he is almost ready to wander

into the rainforest and start

a new life there.

I didn’t say “No” to Lear, either.

He is one of the naughtiest orang-utans

in the centre. 

He is curious and energetic...

he takes things...

he bites...

At the moment, he is still too interested

in the people around him,

but the people at his care centre

are trying to change that.

Adopting an orang-utan and

following their progress can be a lot of fun.

I hope we can get their numbers up

so we can celebrate Orang-utan Awareness Week –

International Orang-utan Caring Week

 for years to come!

Remembrance Day

It's Remembrance Day

11/11/11

I was at an assembly this morning,

watching as the clock ticked

over to

11:11...

I was in a room

with over 500 people

and there was a calm silence

hanging in the air...

Maybe this is why:

Why wear a Poppy written by Don Crawford

"Please wear a poppy", the lady said, And held one forth, but I shook my head Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there, And her face was old and lined with care; "But beneath the scars the years had made There remained a smile that refused to fade. A boy came whistling down the street, Bouncing along on carefree feet. "His smile was full of joy and fun, "Lady" said he "may I have one?" When she pinned it on, he turned to say: "Why do we wear a poppy to-day?" "The lady smiled in her wistful way And answered: "This is Remembrance Day, "And the poppy there is a symbol for The gallant men who died in the war. " "And because they did, you and I are free That's why we wear a poppy you see. I had a boy about your size, With golden hair and big blue eyes. "He loved to play and jump and shout Free as a bird, he would race about. As the years went by, he learned and grew And became a man - as you will too. " "He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile, But he'd seemed with us such a little while When war broke out and he went away. I still remember his face that day. "When he smiled at me and said good-bye. 'I'll be back soon, Mum, so please don't cry.' But the war went on and he had to stay And all l could do was wait and pray. "His letters told us of the awful fight (I can see at in my dreams at night), With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire, And the mines and the bullets, the bombs and the fire." "That sure did sound like an awful fight, But your son - did he come back alright?" A tear rolled down each faded cheek; She shook her head but didn't speak. "I slunk away in a sort of shame, And if you were with me, you'd have done the same; For our thanks, in giving is aft delayed, Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid! "And so, when we see a poppy worn, Let us reflect on the burden borne By those who gave very all When asked to answer their country's call That we at home in peace might live. Then wear a poppy! - and give!

Happy NICU Day

Today is a special day..

Thank You NICU Day

6 Months ago,

I had no idea what a NICU was...

And, to be honest... 

I didn’t care.

Today, I know

(Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)

and while I never want

to go back to a NICU,

I definitely want to say

“Thank You!”.



 

6 months ago,

my baby nephew came into the world...

a couple of months too early!

He went to the NICU

at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

and the nurses and doctors there

looked after him

in a way we never could.



 He was too small

and we were too afraid.

He was in a tiny plastic cage

with skin that looked plastic

and purple.

His tiny sunken chest

moved with each breath...

and so many of those

were being pushed through his body

by machines.

At such an incredibly straining

and emotional time 

the patience and every-day-normal-ness

of the NICU staff

helped to make the journey

a little less difficult...

especially when the night nurses

left crazy photographic evidence

of their night adventures with my nephew,

where they dressed him up

and took him on adventures. 

(They messed up

his sleeping routines a little,

but brought great smiles to me.)

Thank You NICU Day

is held each November.

It’s a day for us to thank

and acknowledge

all Australian NICU staff.

“Thank You!”