Stories from the Dreamtime By the children of Year 2
Stories from the Dreamtime A collection of stories and amazing animal facts, inspired by Aboriginal folk tales. All work created by children in Year 2.
How the Kangaroo Got It's Pouch by Iris Long ago, a baby joey was looking for his mummy. When he was walking through the hot, sandy desert he suddenly saw some terrible hunters. Just at that moment, he saw his mummy's tummy and made a pouch by pulling the skin. The mean hunters were cross because the kangaroo was safe inside his mummy's pouch. And that's how the kangaroo got its pouch. Artwork by: Harvey, Maisie, Emilia, Oliver and Malia
Kangaroo Facts by Amy Kangaroos can't walk because they can't move their back legs separately. Amazingly, baby kangaroos are born blind because they are only 2cm long when they are first born. How the Porcupine Got It's Spikes by Marcelle One beautiful, sunny morning, a joyful, amazing porcupine walked into a dazzling, mokeyswinging area. Suddenly, the porcupine lost ten of its spikes. Just then, in the deep, green forest, the porcupine met an energetic koala bear. The porcupine was feeling sad and his feelings were hurt. Luckily the koala bear was holding some long, brown twigs. As quick as a flash, the koala gave the twigs to the porcupine. And that's how the porcupine got its spikes.
How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck by Ashton One beautiful, sunny morning, the feathery, bouncy ostrich walked in the hot, sandy desert. Unfortunately the ostrich got stuck between two rocks. Luckily, a cuddly dingo found the sad, hungry ostrich. As quick as a flash, the dingo pulled his head and he got out, but his neck was long. And that's how the ostrich got its long neck. The photograph opposite was taken on our trip to Paignton Zoo and shows one of the emus.
Koala Report by Maisie The koala is the world's most cuddliest, most gorgeous bear. It is a type of bear which lives in a eucalyptus tree and it just climbs down to eat it's gum leaves. Would you like to learn about this amazing, wonderful bear? Read this report to find out more! What an exciting, interesting report this is! Surprisingly, the koala's teeth are adapted for their gum-leaf diet because their teeth are shaped for cutting leaves. Koalas sleep for 22 hours because their bodies need lots of rest and the koala's name means 'no water.' A baby koala eats it's mummy's poo and they sleep upside down in their mummy's pouch.the koala lives in Australia, like the cockatoo, kangaroo and a pltypus. What beautiful animals they are!
Platypus Report by Poppy The platypus is one of the world's most fascinating creatures. It is a type of mammal which sleeps, eats, travels and plays in the sticky, gooey mud of the riverbank and comes out only when it is quiet. The platypus likes quiet pools beacuse they make their nests under the roots where it is quiet and cool. Amazingly, the platypus uses its bill to find food! It is a carnivore because it eats crayfish, yabbies, earthworms and mealworms. Platypus Facts by Archie The platypus lives in a riverbank or a warm, gentle stream. The platypus only comes out during the day and it plays in wet, cold, soggy water! What wonderful creatures they are!
Cockatoo Facts by Olly Cockatoos eat sunflower seeds. They also eat worms. It holds the plant with his claws and picks out the seeds. The cockatoos live in the north of Australia in the rainforest in hollow trees. They live for seventy years. The chicks stay with their parents for six months. How Kangaroos Got Their Pouches by Eliza Millions of years ago in Australia, when kangaroos didn't have pouches, baby joey was so sad, because he had lost his mummy. Suddenly, two terrible hunters were looking for kangaroos when they saw baby joey, but then luckily baby joey saw his mother behind an old branch. Then he jumped onto his mother's tummy and with one sharp claw ripped a pouch that was very comfortable and soft and a bit dark, but all that mattered was that the mummy had found baby joey. Art work by Gracie, Elsie, Marco and Harrison, inspired by traditional Aboriginal art.
How the Platypus Got It's Bill by Freda One sun-scorched day, a slimy, wet platypus wanted to go for a delicious, nice, cold swim, but the dazzling, amazing river was empty. Because the river was empty, the poor platypus got sunburnt. A cuddly, cute koala showed the slimy, wet platypus where some nice, cold water was. What a nice, generous koala it was! The sunburnt, relieved platypus followed after his new friend. When they got to the dazzling, amazing pool, the platypus went in. Suddenly a shadowy, spooky crocodile bit his nose as hard as he could. Suddenly, koala to the rescue! The koala had brought a gang. "Come on!" he said, "let's get to it!" They pulled the platypus's nose as well as pulling him away from the crocodile. From that day on, they became best friends. And that's how the platypus got it's bill. Photo opposite shows a crocodile skull, on our trip to Paignton Zoo along with Joe pretending to be a peacock!
On our trip to Paignton Zoo, the children took part in a 'Fact Hunt', searching for information about animals we find in Australia. We were lucky enough to be there when some baby joey's were with their mothers and were able to watch some giant tortoises being fed.
How the Tortoise Got It's Shell by Katy One hot, sunny day, a kind, helpful tortoise was having a walk by the big, green trees. Suddenly, the tortoise got lost. Then, a bouncy, joyful kangaroo came along and said, "Are you ok?" The tortoise said, "Yes, but I'm lost." And the kangaroo said, "It is my bed time." So the kangaroo went to bed. Then suddenly, these mean, cruel tortoises came and the tortoise hid under a rock. The tortoise tried to get out, but his back was stuck. The rock turned upside down on the tortoise's back. And that's how the tortoise got it's shell. Photograph above was taken on our trip.
Tortoise Report by Lily-May The tortoise is a type of reptile. They live can live to be up to 100 years old and hibernate during winter.tortoises have no teeth, so they use their jaws for grinding food. Interestingly, tortoises are herbivores, because they eat shrubs, grasses and cactus. Tortoise Report by Harry The tortoise is one of the world's most sleepiest reptiles. It is a type of creature which bobs its head to get a mate and can't run. It only comes out at dawn and lays its eggs in holes. A trtoise has 60 bones for a shell.
Cockatoo Facts by Alex Cockatoos make nests high up in large trees baecause it is safe from harm. Interestingly, there are fifty different kinds of parrot in Australia. Artwork by Poppy, Olivia, Katie-Mai and Harry. Cockatoo Report by JoJo The cockatoo is one of the world's cutest creatures. It is a type of bird which eats wriggly worms.
How the Birds Got Their Colours by Edward One beautiful, sunny morning, a young, tiny bird flew through the lush, leafy forest and landed on a thorny, sharp branch. What a sharp branch it was! Suddenly, a lump appeared, because he landed on a sharp branch. All the birds tried their best except for stubborn crow. He was standing all alone. Unfortunately, the bird was getting ill and dying and the other birds found him grubs but nothing worked. Luckily, the nice parrot popped the lump and out burst dazzling colours. And that's how the birds got their colours. What a horrible crow he was!
How the Birds Got Their Colours by Elsie Millions of years ago, there was a little black bird. One day, he went to get a juicy, witchetty grub. Suddenly, he landed on a sharp branch and he hurt his foot. His friends came and said "What's the matter?" The little bird said "I prickled my foot because I was trying to get a juicy, witchetty grub." The little bird saw a colourful parrot. "Can you help me?" the little bird asked, so the parrot popped the bird's foot. Suddenly, sparkling colours came out. They were beautiful, but crow didn't get any colours because he was in the corner not helping. And that's how the birds got their colours. Photo opposite taken of Marco, Jessica and Adili admiring cockatoos on our trip.
Kangaroo Facts compiled by Amy, Olivia and Malia The kangaroo is one of the world's rarest, powerful creatures. It is a type of mammal, which sleeps, eats, plays and hops in the soft sand of the hot, sunny desert. Kangaroos eat grass, plants and shrubs because they are herbivores. When they eat, they sick it back up and then swallow it down again. They live in groups called mobs. The photograph above shows Katy holding a kangaroo skull.
Artwork by Poppy and Freda
How the Birds Got Their Colours by Emily Long, long ago, a cute, young bird was flying. How high he was! Soon, he got very hungry. What will he eat? He decided to go and fetch a fat, juicy grub. Where will he find it? When he was looking he saw one. Suddenly, he went down to get it and quick as a flash he landed on a sharp, gnarled branch. By the time he got there, it was gone in the leaves but he had hurt his foot. He flew back to the other birds. Where were the other birds? They couldn't help, none of them.
Quick as a flash, a compassionate, caring parrot rushed forward. "I told you not to go off on your own," he said. The parrot didn't know what to do. He called the doctor. The doctor was confused but in the end he could understand. Doctor gave the compassionate, caring parrot a book. The parrot read the book, he read out loud, "peck the bird's foot." Parrot pecked the bird's foot. "Is it better now?" said parrot. "Yes it is, better than before," said bird. Parrot read the book again and he saw some writing, very small. It said that in ten seconds colours will explode. "Where from?" said parrot. Seven seconds had gone. Three...two...one... "Where are all the colours?" said parrot. It was a trick! "I'm so mad, I'm going to throw this book in the river" said parrot. "Stop, stop!" cried the bird, because he knew it wasn't a trick."it isn't a trick. It doesn't say ten seconds, it says twenty seconds." After the bird had finished her sentence, parrot had dropped the book into the river. Bird's foot was in so much pain, his foot really hurt. The doctor came back and gave the bird some pills to put in his foot. He put one in and out burst colours. They rained on all the birds. And that's how the birds got their colours.