2024: Wetlands and Birds

Focus of the Year: Wetlands and Birds

Each year, The Rainforest School chooses a whole-school theme to bring learning to life across subject areas and deepen connections to place. In 2024, our focus was Wetlands and Birds—a rich and layered exploration of ecology, art, science, flight, and culture, all grounded in our local environment.

This project invited students to step into the world of native birdlife and the wetland ecosystems they rely on. Through observation, fieldwork, storytelling and creative expression, students developed a stronger understanding of—and responsibility for—the natural world around them.

Cross-Curricular Discovery

Learning about birds and wetlands offered opportunities for meaningful integration across all learning areas.

In English, students observed local bird species and translated their findings into bird information cards, bird bingo games, and original poetry. These poems were compiled into a beautifully illustrated student book, celebrating both their research and their creativity.

In The Arts, students painted detailed bird portraits, many of which were selected for exhibition at the Tully Show and proudly displayed at our Spring Fair.

In Science, students explored the mechanics of flight. With support from guest experts, they examined how birds and aircraft take to the skies:

• An aviation specialist and pilot visited the school to explain the scientific principles behind flight
• Students visited Tully Aerodrome to explore the interior of a real aircraft and speak with a pilot from Mission Beach Skydive
• A second field trip to Mission Beach Skydive gave students the chance to learn about the experience of freefall and the forces involved in skydiving

Learning from the Land

To develop a deeper understanding of wetlands and their role in sustaining biodiversity, students ventured into key ecosystems:

• At Tyto Wetlands in Ingham, students explored over 110 hectares of rehabilitated wetland, home to more than 240 species of birds. They also visited the on-site interpretive centre to deepen their ecological knowledge.
• A field trip to Mungalla Station at Forest Beach introduced students to Indigenous land management practices and historical perspectives. It also offered excellent birdwatching opportunities and a strong cultural lens through which to view conservation.

Purposeful Learning, Local Impact

Wetlands and Birds gave students the opportunity to look closely at their surroundings, listen deeply to the stories of place, and consider how natural systems and human actions are interconnected.

This project brought together our school’s core values—community, connection, conservation and creativity—and gave students opportunities to express themselves, ask questions, and celebrate the beauty and complexity of the world just beyond their classroom doors.

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