1. A Parliament of Birds at Bunyaville

2. Discovering Democracy Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre Earnshaw State Junior College Our Lady of the Rosary Kenmore Created by Noeleen Rowntree at Bunyaville

3. Understanding democracy, valuing place Engaging the learner Creating active and informed citizens for a sustainable future Immersion via role play

4. Connecting to the learner Building knowledge

5. So who are we really? introduce self as the bird you are ‘I’m Palm Cockatoo. Pleased to meet you.’

6. Transition into role Scaffolding learning

7. builds understanding tolerance value others feeling successful

8. Learner centred

9. Creative problem solving

10. …a scrape in the ground …hollows in old trees

11. What is it like to be a nocturnal bird? experience first hand

12. I’m a diurnal bird Did you hear that? Learner centred

13. Deep understanding

14. Meaningful for the learner Constructs knowledge

15. The issues

16. Ferals - Beware!

17. ’Noisy Miner is happy the Land is for sale’ Media interview Knowledge integration

18. Our habitat today in this forest Deepening understanding

19. Active engagement for all learning styles

20. Just what we need Birds are sharing their feathers and their message.

21. connectedness

22. Modelling Making connections Knowledge integration

23. In flight to Cockatoo Island Collaborative partnerships

25. The Halls of Parliament of Birds

26. appreciate

27. Transdisplinary Integration SOSE, Science, English, HPE, ICT Including The Arts - visual arts - role play - role of media Literacy - visual and critical

28. Committee Meetings

29. We’re almost in the chamber

30. Parliament – a place to speak

31. Our electorates (Habitats) Pop in segment from video with Ali in the parliament talking about birds (students) speaking on behalf of all the birds out there that they are representing as the elected bird of their habitat.mini tape 5.35- 6.45 CD 2 339 GRASSLANDS Wetland - Cd2 260 ‘water rail’s nesting site’ Forests - Bunyaville 199 We represent all habitats

32. Parliament in session Builds capacity students, staff, community

33. Higher order thinking

34. Party Meeting and advisors

35. All in favour say aye Encourages participation and the capacity to act for the community and societal improvement

36. Pass bills

37. Our Bills….

38. Ali explains 9 times out of ten the government and opposition agree on the bill.

39. Consensus debate Consensus Bill chosen to debate All parties agree with the idea in principle Bill can be amended (by the opposition) Most bills are agreed to in the real parliament (95%) The rest are adversarial debates

40. Consensus debate

41. Public Gallery

42. Federal Member Invited to attend Parliament Links to the real world Rainbow Bee-eater is the member for the Forest and makes decisions in the electorate in which you reside.In fact the bills that may be discussed and passed in the chamber could affect where and how you live. You may therefore find the debate of interest to your future.

43. Media

44. Rap ‘We all want a say’

45. Student reflection ‘My experience of Cockatoo Island and Bunyaville is that I learned new things. I learned that forests are being cleared for houses. First no habitats, then no eggs, then no babies, then no birds. I made a nest and found out what birds use to make nests. The Bunyaville forest is shrinking and lots of trees are going so we shouldn’t cut down trees. In the forest, we found feathers to make the rainbow feather.’ (Rose Abundo’s Year 4/5 )

46. Class teachers’ reflections Unit was very much hands-on Discovering Democracy kit helpful with Cockatoo Island Books 1-3 Need more resources on birds and habitats Teachers integrated across the kla’s focussing on The Arts, English SOSE, Science and ICT Assessment woven into the unit with criteria sheets, checklists, observation, self and peer assessment, powerpoint presentations, community celebration of learning Example of some criteria - consider points of view, participating, cooperating, respect for the speaker Children with learning and behavioural problems were able to participate at some level (Teachers Earnshaw State Junior College and Our Lady of the Rosary Kenmore)

47. ..and at school Democracy in progress What has been learnt has flowed into the classroom and school practices e.g. Year 4/5 is responsible for assembly next term. Before proceeding on format for the assembly, Year 4/5 students plan to consult with rest of school re certain issues, revise the format and work towards a new format that students have voted on as acceptable by the majority of the class. ‘What got me excited…my ESL boy and ADD boy who’s never on task or focused also wanted to go and talk about it {gathering school’s input for the assembly}…experiencing first hand how it is if everyone has a say on an issue or a proposed change.’ Year 4/5 class teacher

48. ..and at school Debating bills at school that relate specifically to school issues. For example: ‘All students should have 20 mins of physical activity at school each day’ ‘Students who are bullying at school should receive harsher consequences’ Some students are lobbying for drinking taps at more accessible levels as most Year 4/5 students have to kneel to drink. (Teachers Earnshaw State Junior College)

49. Noeleen’s favourites

50. The creation of the Parliament of Birds Reused logs – relocated by National Parks Sustainable use of natural resources

51. ALI

52. who’s who Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre

53. Acknowledgements This project was successful thanks to the Discovering Democracy Grant and a team of truly inspirational educators. Rod Pattison for his creative talents in building the Parliament of Birds and props, Bunyaville staff and volunteers Cam Mackenzie, Judy Nightingale, Gail Price, Trish Ingenhoven, Cathy Godwin (artist and teacher), Marija Bicanic Earnshaw State Junior College Year 4/5 students and teachers Carol Cochrane for seeing the potential ‘to fly’ Our Lady of the Rosary at Kenmore Year 5 students and teachers Erika Fish a talented and dedicated photographer. Pam Koger for her incredible graphic artistic skills. Ali Garnett and Kaye Kessing for their teamwork and foresight to create Cockatoo, Cacophony and A Parliament of Birds. Thank you from Noeleen Rowntree - Project Manager nrown1@eq.edu.au (07 3353 4356)

54. Discovering Democracy Bunyaville Environmental Education Centre Earnshaw State Junior College Our Lady of the Rosary Kenmore Created by Noeleen Rowntree at Bunyaville