Kookaburra!

After reading The Magic School Bus Expedition Down Under by Joanna Cole, it was important to add a picture of the kookaburra to our site. Ms. Frizzle's class searched for the kookaburra during their journey to Australia and did not find one until the last chapter. Then they were surrounded by an entire flock! Here's a picture of the kookaburra:

Image obtained from http://www.norcalblogs.com/birds/kookaburra-large.jpg

Here are the lyrics to the song the children in the story learned:

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That's not a monkey that's me

Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh how life can be 

This song was written by Marion Sinclair in 1932. She lived in Melbourne, Australia. Can you find Melbourne on the map?

G'Day Mates

Australia is our next stop on our journey around the world. Known as the "Land Down Under", it lies completely below the equator within the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is both a country and a continent. There are lots of unique and special things to learn about Australia!


Here is a map of Australia:

Obtained from:http://www.enchantedlearning.com/agifs/Australiamap2.GIF

Here is the flag of Australia:

Obtained from: http://www.fruitsaladretro.co.uk/acatalog/flag_australia.jpg

The upper left corner of the flag looks like the British flag. This is because Australia used to be a colony of Great Britain. The stars on the right form the constellation known as the Southern Cross. The large star on the left has seven points - one for each of Australia's states and territories.

Here are some interesting and fun links where you can learn some more things about Australia:

Australia Down Under

National Geographic Kids

Australia for Kids

Zoom School - Australia

Australia Zoo