Consider all the creatures Thy hands have made

Something the frogmouth can teach our students!

another fun fact: some birds are able to fly long distances as their left and right brain can take turns to sleep - just like the sharks!! 🤯

Through the lens of educators, it is always best to give our students the autonomy to make their choices and to give them breathing space to think and experience in their own pace, for them to grow.

Interesting picture of a bird's nest on the wall with different coloured wood veneers layered on each other to depict birds flying back with food for the young in the nest. Taking perspectives is so important, an issue/a situation that we can view with many layers and unpacking it with different view points, eventually we need to converge back to the intent (where the 'home' is).

The ASM has a nice feature where you can design your own sea animals / aircraft, scan that in, and watch your animal / aircraft take its place in the digital display.

Kids and adults alike happily took part in this - a nice reminder that everyone likes to have their voice heard and (even more for our classroom) for your own hard work to be featured.

A good prompt for us to look for meaningful opportunities to student voice to be heard and responded to!

I’ve always been ambivalent about zoos and parks as animals are made to run free in the wild and part of the natural biodiversity, not caged and fed off human hands. But I recognise the efforts that Mandai wildlife reserve is doing to promote wildlife education and conservation - very informative and multilingual signs with infographics, funny facts about mating rituals and conservation status. Engaging your audience should be multidimensional and multidisciplinary!

Ending this with the black cockatoos in the Australian outback park - I had seen these birds in the wild flying overhead in Jervis Bay in Australia. They are much rarer and harder to spot than white cockatoos (which are found everywhere). But here, many black cockatoos roam, and allow you to creep close to them and I could see them up close! So perhaps, there is a place for such parks, for we can’t always see them in the wild, but here, being close to them and learning about them might inspire us to do better for our planet and its creatures. A call to action would be more effective when it involves the affective domain - our hearts must be moved first.

It is like having the Science knowledge to create these arts.

Yet, it also encompasses the art of using Science of optics.

In the same way, as we plan and design programmes for our students it is important to make the learning authentic and relavant. There also be different elements within that experience that caters to different types of students with different learning needs and abilities.

Learnt that when penguins dive, they release air trapped in their feathers. The air bubbles reduce water density around their bodies, allowing them to triple their speed.

As an educator, this visit has enriched my understanding and emphasized the importance of linking learning concepts into diverse hands-on and experiential opportunities. This can help to foster a deeper, more meaningful connection to the topics being explored.

One intriguing tidbit that captured my attention was the account of the Emu War I read (see photo). In 1932, Western Australia found itself in an unusual conflict as thousands of hungry emus wreaked havoc on crops. The Australian army was then deployed to cull the birds. Interestingly, the tough birds out-maneuvered the truck-mounted guns and dodged bullets! After an astonishing 38 days, the army conceded defeat in their mission.

Learning Point:

This historical incident highlights the tenacity and resilience of the emu, underscoring the significance of unwavering determination when faced with unforeseen challenges. Despite not being the most aesthetically pleasing bird, the emu's capacity to dodge bullets and outsmart military intervention imparts an important lesson for our individual learning journeys. Embracing toughness and perseverance becomes pivotal in navigating life's intricacies, ensuring that we not only confront but triumph over the most formidable obstacles. It's a lesson I'm enthusiastic to share with my children and students, offering valuable insights about resilience in the journey of life.

I am impressed with the myriad of birds at Bird Paradise. I like the fact that there are lots of posters to educate the public about the birds, feeding habits, migratory paths, etc. I learnt more about the different birds and their importance to the ecosystem. This makes me appreciate how God has created animals and plants for us to appreciate His creative creation, and Singapore is in the pathway of two major transmigration pathways of the birds! Wow!

From a educator's perspective

Singapore's Bird Paradise serves as a metaphor for the diverse student population in Singapore. As a teacher in Singapore, fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment is akin to creating a sanctuary for diverse learners. Just as the Bird Paradise accommodates various species, a teacher must cater to the unique needs and strengths of individual students, creating an educational ecosystem where each student can thrive. Embracing diversity, like the vibrant array of birds in the sanctuary, contributes to a rich and dynamic learning environment, ultimately shaping well-rounded individuals ready to soar in the global landscape.

It has no qualms about singled itself out from it’s flock.

Birds stay in large flocks to make it difficult for predators to singled out any one bird.

Ms Attitude here reminds me of my students . Hmmmm.. I wonder why ..

The sight of the penguins waiting patiently to be fed highlighted the importance of providing tailored support and guidance, even for individuals seemingly capable of independent tasks. This reminded me of the need to acknowledge and accommodate different needs, rather than assuming everyone can manage alone.

This experience significantly influenced my perception of education, emphasizing the necessity of balancing encouragement for self-sufficiency with offering necessary support when needed.

Attached is a picture of my family during our visit. It serves as a reminder that nurturing and educating children is a collaborative effort, much like the villagers raising a child. Our trip to the Bird Paradise reinforced the idea that providing the right support ensures the holistic development of young minds.

Birds are friendly

World class facility

While watching the Bird talents show, I was quite impressed and inspired. As educators we can focus more on creativity, collaboration, and effective communication in our teaching methods. Observing nature's brilliance can also encourage fostering diverse skills and promoting adaptability in students.

Mandai’s Bird Paradise is really an impressive, educational and engaging place for all ages. Never a dull moment with so many sights and sounds happening as birds of all species were

flying around me. These birds also look very healthy and happy as they socialise with other birds and roam around confidently and calmly. This up close experience is the icing on the cake for me.

An amazing journey through Bird Paradise, with 2 little "birds" chirping non-stop around me too. Reminded me that our children/students have an innate curiosity for things around them, and we as parents/teachers can do our best to fan that curiosity for learning and guide them as they explore and discover themselves and the world they are in.