Welcome to Australia

A Country and Continent

What do you know about Australia?

Did you list……

• Kangaroo Jack• Koala Bears• Joey• Outback• Land Down

Under• Sydney Opera

House

Location of Australia

From Mississippi to Australia is 8,933 miles.

Land Down Under• Regions- New South Wales,

Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania

• Australia’s outback is very dry and flat (desert). Very few people live in the outback. Ayers rock is located in the outback.

• Most of the people live in the cities and towns around the coast.

• Capital City: Canberra

• Large country also a continent

Geography

Great Barrier Reef

• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world.

• There are 400 different species of coral and thousands of different types of sea life.

What time is it?

7:36 a.m.(morning in Gulfport)

10:36 p.m.(night in Sydney)

Season: Spring** Season: Fall**

15 hour difference

TRUE OR FALSE ?

• Australia is a small country.

• Most people live in the outback.

• The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world

• Ayers Rock is located in the outback.

History

Here come the English

Australia

• In 1770, an English explorer, James Cook became the first European explorer to find the island continent.

• He named the island New South Wales.

• It was later changed to Australia. The word Australia means southern.

The Aborigines

• They are the native inhabitants of Australia.

• They have lived on the land for about 40,000.

• They are credited with creating the returning boomerang.

• Many ancient drawing can be found at Ayers Rock.

TRUE OR FALSE ?

• Aborigines are native Australians.

• James Cook was the first European to explore Australia.

The People

G’Day Mate!

• G’day – good day• Mate – friend• Oz- Australia• Dinky do – the real thing• Onkey-dorey - good• Barbie – BBQ• Boomer – big kangaroo• Salty – crocodile• Beaut- great• Mum – mother• Ta – good bye

Australian Facts

• Cricket is the national sport of Australia.

• Some other team sports they like to play are rugby, Australian football, and soccer.

• Most people live in single-story homes. Apartment buildings are rare in Australia.

• Some children live very far from schools. These children attend school at home using the latest technology. The schools are named, “Schools of the Air”

TRUE OR FALSE ?

• Ice hokey is the national sport of Australia.

Animals

Marsupials

Marsupials are mammals with pouches. They are common in Australia.

Kangaroo

Koala

Wombat

WallabyTasmanian Devil

Egg Laying Mammals

The platypus and spiny anteater are mammals that hatch their young from eggs.

platypusSpiny anteater

Other Common Animals

Salty water crocodile

dingo

emu

Hammerhead shark

Kookaburra

TRUE OR FALSE ?

• Marsupials are common in Australia.

The End

References

• “ Look What Came from Australia” by Kevin Davis

• “Travel Through Australia: Come on a Journey of Discovery” by Linda Pickwell

• “A Trip Around the World: Bringing Cultural Awareness to your Classroom with Activities Across the Curriculum” Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company