Cockatoo Island
The Parliamentary Education Office (PEO) has created
an engaging resource that helps young Australians understand how their
country works. Welcome to Cockatoo Island!
Cockatoo Island is an imaginary island run by a parliament of Australian Birds.
The Cockatoo Island package comprises three colourful big
books and three teaching guides. Cockatoo Island introduces
students to a most diverse and democratic society. Illustrated by central Australian
artist Kaye Kessing, the big books tell the story of how the birds organise
life on the island to be fair and tolerant with opportunities for all and the
right to be heard.
The Cockatoo Island package: Three Big Books and three Teacher's In-Flight Guides.
Teacher’s In-Flight Guides support each big book and teachers’ programming requirements. The guides include, amongst other things, curriculum outcomes, learning indicators, notes about parliament, information about Australian birds, blackline masters and many suggested classroom activities.
The stories and activities that comprise this engaging set have been trialled in schools across Australia over the last six years to the delight of all concerned. PEO officers are now visiting different regions to introduce the resource to classroom teachers. The next stage of the project is to create Cockatoo Island parliaments in parks and gardens around Australia.
The Cockatoo Island package is produced and sold
by Cengage Learning (formerly Thomson Learning). Go to the
Cengage Learning website or
phone customer service on 1300 790 853.
Cengage Learning: www.cengage.com.au