Live Minibeasts
Diving deep into the mysteries of the natural world, our kindergarten class embarked on an exciting exploration of mini beasts and life in the underground.
This nature-based workshop delivered by ‘Natura Pacifica’ provided children with an opportunity to explore a variety of topics including features, life cycles, food chain and more. Our brave little explorers observed earthworms, mealworms and stick insects very closely.
One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to get hands-on with some of the mini beasts! The children were thrilled to touch mealworms and were fascinated by a large spiny leaf insect. At the end of the session, we received four baby leaf insects to care for. The children are excited to watch them grow and learn about their life cycles. This experience helps them understand the importance of caring for living things while enjoying the wonders of insect life.
Interaction with nature is such an important component of early education that it is included in the National Quality Standard (NQS) which is an integral component of the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
ACECQA believes that learning about empathy, relationships, the environment and nature are just some of the benefits children receive by caring for living things. Having a pet at a childcare centre gives children an opportunity to observe, interact and learn about animals and it can be a valuable part of their education and care experience, enriching their learning about nature, ecology and relationships.
Source: QA3_InfoSheetKeepingPetsAndAnimalsInEducationAndCareServices.pdf