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Australia
Here is a list of the resources we used, videos we watched, and activities we did in our study of Australia.
Note: Most of the resources that teach about Australia include evolution and talk about the Aboriginal people as having lived in Australia for 50,000+ years. In fact, it is VERY difficult to find resources that DON'T make mention of this. Since that idea is going to be taught all throughout, we just took a moment BEFORE starting our class to just talk about the fact that the people who believe this don’t believe that God made the world, because according to the Bible, God created the world only about 6,000 years ago, so it isn’t possible for anything to be 40,000+ years old.
Every time we begin our “travels” to a new country, we always do the same 5 things:
1) Find the flag sticker for the country we are going to travel to, and stick it in our
2) Set up a pretend airplane and sing our "All Around the World" song as we pretend to fly to our destination.
3) Assemble our first travel book page, with the name of the country, the flag, country outline, and the pictures of people dressed in traditional costume.
>> Australia Travel Page 01 - Country Profile Page
4) Have a fun little country themed scavenger hunt! (featured below)
5) Assemble our second travel book page. Although, this page we usually do on our LAST day of learning about the country, since the kids like to pretend that they took all these pictures while they were visiting the country, so this second page is a place for them to “scrapbook” their memories of what they did on their adventure.
>> Australia Travel Page 02 - Scrapbook Page
Australia Scavenger Hunt. We always like to do a scavenger hunt when learning about a new country. This is the scavenger hunt we put together for Australia.
In Australia's Beginning. Finally a book that teaches about Australia from a Creation stand point!!
I looked so hard to find a resource like this! Most books and videos that teach about Australia all teach from the perspective of evolution, so this book is unique in that it acknowledges God as the creator, and the people of Australia as decedents of Adam and Eve. So as far as our study of Australia goes, I think this is the BEST book to start with!
By starting out with THIS book, I feel like my children have a better foundation for seeing how God fits into the story of Australia, and helps them to be better equipped to understand the misinformation that we come across as we dive into other resources that teach about Australia with the evolutionary "old earth" perspective.
Let’s Take a Journey: Australia. Let’s learn about what life is like for kids in Australia.
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>> Australia For Kids (Playdate With Stacy)
Australia for Kids. Learn about Australia for kids, a fun educational video taking a look at Australian animals, culture, and history. Take a look at Uluru, meet some Aborigines, listen to a didgeridoo, and jump around with a kangaroo!
You May Also Like:
>> All About Australia for Kids (Learn Bright)
>> Flags of Australia (Learn and Play Online)
For Older Students:
Where Is Australia? Join Archie and Beans as they explore the fascinating country of Australia!
Australia Song For Kids. Learn about Australia with this fun and educational song for kids!
'Australia Is The Place We Want To Go' Geography and Culture Song. Composed in the style of the popular retro music of Australia, this song gives a basic overview of the geography, culture, landmarks, icons, and famous historical figures of Australia.
Hogi Goes to Sydney. A fun little animated video that introduces kids to Sydney Australia!
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>> Hogi Goes to the Great Barrier Reef
>> Hogi: 10 Things About the Great Barrier Reef
Monkey Down Under. Join our favorite curious little monkey as he travels with the man in the yellow hat to explore the land Down Under!
Blippi Wonders How High Can a Kangaroo Jump? Blippi sees a kangaroo crossing sign and wonders, “How high can a kangaroo jump?” His new kangaroo mate, Rooney, is happy to demonstrate, challenging Blippi to a hopping race around the famous sandstone monolith Uluru. Can Blippi jump as high as a kangaroo?
You May Also Like:
>> Amazing Animals! | Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Nat Geo Kids)
>> Australia! (Thomas & Friends | Big World! Big Adventures!)
>> Thomas' Kangaroo Adventure In Australia
Aussie Animals. Jett teams up with Ruby to film native Australian animals like emus, koalas, and kangaroos.
You May Also Like:
>> Melbourne Tennis Madness (Super Wings)
>> Shark Surf Surprise (Super Wings)
>> Happy Mother's Day (Super Wings)
>> Christmas Down Under (Super Wings)
Australia Travel Guide: 15 Things to Know Before You Go. Chris Raney shares 15 things you should know before visiting Australia.
Australia’s Flag. A good explanation of the history of the Australia flag and how it relates to the modern debate of whether or not the design of the flag should be changed.
How to Draw the Australia Flag. A great tutorial video that gives kids step-by-step instructions on how to draw the Australia Flag.
You May Also Like:
>> How to Draw Australia Themed Playlist (Art for Kids Hub)
Kids Try Australian Food. Exactly what the title suggests -- American kids are given some popular Australian foods to try. Watch their genuine reactions!
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>> Kids Try Snacks From Australia (HiHo Kids)
Aussie Fairy Bread Recipe. A simple recipe for making your own fairy bread, a sweet treat that is often served at children’s birthday parties in Australia.
What On Earth is a Platypus? Platypuses are so funny, it looks like someone made them up as a joke. But they're real animals! Join Jessi and Squeaks to learn about how amazing platypuses really are!
You May Also Like:
>> How Do Koalas Stay Cool? (SciShow Kids)
>> Why Do Kangaroos Have Pouches? (SciShow Kids)
>> Platypus | The Weirdest Animal on Earth (Colossal Cranium
God's Amazing Animals | Platypus. Welcome to another exciting episode of God's Amazing Animals! Today, we're diving into the world of one of the most unique creatures God has made – the platypus!
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>> God's Amazing Animals | Kangaroos (Little Light Kids)
>> God's Amazing Animals | Stingrays (Little Light Kids)
>> God's Amazing Animals | Crocodiles (Little Light Kids)
Meet the Animals | Red Kangaroo. A cute little video that teaches young kids a little about Kangaroos.
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>> Meet the Animals | Koala (Little Fox)
>> Meet the Animals | Manta Ray (Little Fox)
>> Meet the Animals | Sea Horse (Little Fox)
>> Meet the Animals | Great White Shark (Little Fox)
>> Meet the Animals | Hammerhead Shark (Little Fox)
How to Draw a Kangaroo. Art for Kids Hub is a great YouTube channel that gives easy step by step instructions for kids.
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>> How to Draw Australia Themed Playlist (Art for Kids Hub)
Australian Animals Coloring Pages. These are really quality coloring pages that are free to download and use in your country study.
Australia Landmark Coloring Pages. These are really quality coloring pages that are free to download and use in your country study.
Australia Map Coloring Pages. These are really quality coloring pages that are free to download and use in your country study.
After ready the book “A Platypus’ World” and learning some cool things about Platypuses, I had the kids color a platypus coloring page (we used the coloring page from Baker Ross), then we glued their pictures to construction paper along with a few of their favorite platypus facts.
Kickin' It With The Roos. Martin and Chris find a mob of red kangaroos and a joey steals their car keys.
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>> Koala Balloon (Wild Kratts)
>> Platypus Cafe (Wild Kratts)
Ozzie Learns About Koalas. Ozzie meets Head Keeper Jess at Calmsley Hill City Farm to learn all about one of Australia’s most iconic animals, the Koala.
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>> Learn About Kangaroos With Ozzie (Ozzie)
Wonders Down Under. This is an old classic video that’s been converted from a VHS tape, so the image quality isn’t the best, but the content of the video itself is quite excellent. Narrated by an animated spinning globe (“Spin”) kids will get to see and learn about all sorts of Australian animals.
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>>
Frill Necked Lizard Attack. These Frill-Necked Lizards are really awesome, and this particular episode captures their action up close. Kids especially find it entertaining as the lizard goes after the cameras and charge the camera men. Overall a pretty exciting video clip where you get to see the Frill-Necked Lizard in action!
You May Also Like:
>> Catching a Frilled Dragon (Brave Wilderness)
>> Meet the Frilled "Bicycle" Lizard (National Geographic)
>> Frill-Necked Lizard's Wild Running Style (The World Safari)
>> How to Draw a Frilled Lizard (Twinkl Kids TV)
For Older Students:
>> Australia's Remarkable Reptiles (Free High-Quality Documentaries)
>> The Real-Life "Jurassic Park" Dragon Up Close! (Made in the Wild)
The Boomerang. Phil McCordic demonstrates how a boomerang's curved path uses the same aerodynamic principles as airplane wings. By throwing it vertically with a spin, one wing generates more lift than the other, causing gyroscopic precession that curves the flight path back.
Johnny Murison Demonstrates ‘How to Throw a Boomerang’. I love the fact that this boomerang demonstration is actually done “on site” in the outback, with Urulu in the background, and by an indigenous person from Australia. A very well done boomerang demonstration!
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>> Boomerang | Peppa Pig (Peppa's Best Bites)
>> Boomerang Trick Shot (How Ridiculous)
>> Boomerang Trick Shots (Dude Perfect)
>> Real Boomerangs DON'T COME BACK | Underappreciated Historical Weapons (Shadiversity)
>> Easy Origami Boomerang | Paper Toys (Red Ted Art)
For Older Students:
>> How to Throw a "Traditional Shaped Returning" Boomerang (Victor Poulin)
>> Frisbee vs. Boomerang Trick Shot Battle (Brodie Smith)
>> Boomerang Trick Shots 2 (Dude Perfect)
>> How Does a Boomerang Work? (Veritasium)
>> William Tell Boomerang Trick Shot (How Ridiculous)
>> Why Do Boomerangs Come Back? (SciShow)
>> How Boomerangs Work (Equatoro)
>> Boomerang - How Do They Do It? (Discovery UK)
Brief History of the Aboriginal Dot Painting. Learn a little about the Australian Aborigines and how dot painting is a big part of their culture.
Learn About Aboriginal Art With Ozzie + Bill Reynolds. Ozzie meets a very talented young Aboriginal artist, Billy Reynolds, who teaches kids about this very important part of Indigenous Australian culture, Aboriginal art.
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>> Ozzie Loves Indigenous Culture Playlist
Aboriginal Dot Painting. There are many ways to incorporate Aboriginal art into your Australia country studies, but this is perhaps the most simplest example I’ve seen which could be most ideal if you have younger children.
Q-Tip Dot Painting. These Aboriginal inspired art projects are very simple to do. The site even includes the free downloadable templates, so all you need are Q-tips and paint and let your kids’ creativity run wild!
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>> Australian Kangaroo Dot Painting (Free Kids Crafts)
>> Australian Aboriginal Handprint Art For Kids (Leafwood Learning Art Lessons)
Aboriginal Dot Art Examples. This link leads to a PDF document that contains a few examples of Aboriginal dot art. I like to use these examples to inspire the kids to use their creativity to create their own dot art.
23 Musical Instruments of Australia. So very interesting! I never even knew that Boomerangs were used to play music. And so many other instruments I’ve never seen before. This video shows all sorts of unique instruments that are played in Australia, including the “Musical Leaf”!
You May Also Like:
>> Australian Aboriginal Didgeridoo Music (Traditional Music Channel)
Sydney Opera House Craft. You can’t really study Australia without learning at least a little about the Sydney Opera House. This simple paper plate craft project is a really fun, yet simple way to learn about this symbolic landmark.
The Great Barrier Reef. Join these three friends, ABC Mouse, 123, and Do Re Me, in an animated adventure as they explore The Great Barrier Reef in Australia!
Octonauts & the Great Barrier Reef. In this musical special, the Octonauts must find a way to hold back hungry swarms of coral-eating starfish to save a new friend's fragile reef home.
Curious George Sea Monkey. George and the Man with the Yellow Hat are overjoyed when Professors Wiseman, Einstein and Pizza invite them onto a submarine trip to retrieve a small weather satellite that crashed from space. George learns all about the coral reef, sharks, fish, sea turtles, and their ecosystem.
Hogi Goes to The Great Barrier Reef. A fun little animated video that introduces kids to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia!
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>> 10 Things About the Great Barrier Reef (Hogie the Globehopper)
The Magic School Bus Takes a Dive. No one teaches science quite like Ms. Frizzle. In this episode, Ms. Frizzle takes her class on an underwater treasure hunt where they learn about the ecosystem of coral reefs.
Check Out the Great Barrier Reef. SciKids does a great job of teaching a lot of interesting facts in ways that kids can understand and relate to. This particular episode on the Great Barrier Reef is really well done!
You May Also Like:
>> Coral Reefs for Kids (Learn Bright)
>> Coral Reef for Kids (Little Cozy Nook)
>> Deep Sea Dive | Really Wild Animals (National Geographics)
>> The Great Barrier Reef | See It From a Glass Bottom Boat (Oliver and Lucas)
For Older Students:
>> Global Reef Expedition | Great Barrier Reef (Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation)
Dive to the Coral Reefs. An old classic movie that takes kids on an adventure, through reading and experiences, taking a closer look at coral reefs.
How to Draw a Coral Reef. Art for Kids Hub is a great YouTube channel that gives step by step instructions for kids on how to draw a wide assortment of things. This particular video features a coral reef, but there are other videos you may also like, including how to draw a sea turtle, shark, blue tang fish, clownfish, starfish, jellyfish, seahorse, dolphin, and more!
Coral Reef Sensory Bin (Fun Projects For Your Kids)
There's no wrong way to do a sensory bin! Some simple sea creature themed toys, a few shells and stones, and some coral foam or fish tank plants, and you're good to go!
Painted Fish Rocks. Turn flat rocks into fish by adding some glitter, googly eyes, and paper fins! I love this particular type of painted fish rocks because it’s so simple that pretty much any child can do it, no matter their artistic level, and it will come out looking like a fish.
How to Cook An Emu Egg. Emu's are the second largest birds in the world, and native to Australia. They lay the most beautiful eggs. Let's find out what they look like inside and what it tastes like.
The Great Australian Coin Challenge Part 1. Let's play a guessing game! Australia made A to Z coins, so Chris and and his friend J.J. play a game to see who can guess what Australia chose to feature on each coin.
Watch Part 2 Here: The Great Australian Coin Challenge Part 2 (J.J. McCullough)
We Visited the Most Remote Town in Australia. Join Nate and Kara on an adventure, as they drive through the Outback to visit the more remote town in Australia.
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>> 72 Hours On a Luxury Safari in Australia (DownieLive)
Flying My Plane To Do the Groceries. Flying my plane to the nearest town to do my weekly groceries! It's turned into a bit of a habit these last couple weeks, and it sure does beat driving 100 km!
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>> Building a Dirt Airstrip to Land My Plane (Outback Tom)
>> 3 Essential Knots You Should Learn (Outback Tom)
90 Year of the Royal Flying Doctors. Imagine what it would be like living far away from any doctors or hospitals. What would you do if you needed a check-up or had a serious medical emergency? Well, that's a real situation for people living in remote parts of Australia including some of you. Luckily there's an organization that's been looking out for outback Aussies for the past 90 years.
For Older Students:
>> The Genius Who Saved Remote Australia (Aussie Breakdowns)
>> The Furthest Corner, The Finest Care (Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia)
>> "Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best" Royal Flying Doctors (ABC Australia)
>> Australia's Most Remote Areas | Bush Pilots in the Outback (Autentic Documentary)
>> A Man and a Truck | Australian Inland Mission (Frontier Services)
>> Flying Doctor (CuriosityShow)
>> Book: John Flynn: Into the Never Never (Christian Heroes Then & Now)
Australia Gold Rush. A good, clear explanation of the Australian Gold Rush.
You May Also Like:
>> Australian Gold Rush (Bedtime History)
For Older Students:
>> The Gold Rush That Built Australia (The Lucky Country)
The Koala Who Could. An animated story about Kevin the Koala, who learns that trying new things can be exciting instead of scary!
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>> Read Aloud: Living in Australia
Recommended Reading
In Australia's Beginning, by Katrina Dickson Robb
Living In . . . Australia, by Chloe Perkins
Australia (BlastOff! Readers), by Colleen Sexton
Earth's Continents: Australia, by Reese Everett
Learning About Australia, by Lisa Owings
Australia and Oceania, by Barbara A. Somervill
Australia (Country Profiles Series), by Marty Gitlin
Let's Look at Australia, by A. M. Reynolds
Made By God: Curious Creatures Down Under, by Zondervan
Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under, by Marianne Berkes
Lonely Planet Kids City Trails - Sydney, by Helen Greathead
D Is For Down Under: An Australia Alphabet, by Devin Scillian
Australia ABC’s, by Sarah Heiman
Are We There Yet?, by Alison Lester
A Walk On The Great Barrier Reef, by Caroline Arnold
A Koala's World, by Carline Arnold
A Kangaroo's World, by Carline Arnold
A Platypus' World, by Carline Arnold
Super Cute Baby Kangaroos, by Megan Borgert-Spaniol
The Magic School Bus Takes a Dive, by Nancy White
Great Reef Games (Race the Wild #2), by Kristin Earhart
Outback All-Stars (Race the Wild #5), by Kristin Earhart
The Mystery at the Coral Reef (Greetings From Somewhere Series), by Harper Paris
The Australian Boomerang Bonanza (Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures #8), by Jeff Brown
Outback Odyssey (Adventures of Riley #7), by Amanda Lumry
Riddle of the Reef (Adventures of Riley #8), by Amanda Lumry
We're From Australia, by Vic Parker
Look What Came From Australia, by Kevin Davis
Australia Unpacked, by Clive Gifford
Australia: A Benjamin Blog and His Inquisitive Dog Guide, by Anita Ganeri
If You Were Me and Lived In Australia, by Carole P. Roman
Australia: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Lonley Planet), by Janine Scott
Colours of Australia, by Bronwyn Bancroft
My Country, by Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Boomerangs (Early Physics Fun), by Jenny Fretland VanVoorst
100 Facts: Coral Reef, by Miles Kelly
Where Is The Great Barrier Reef? by Nico Medina
The Brilliant Deep, by Kate Messner