Davey the Dunnart Teaching Activities

SYNOPSIS
Davey is an endangered Australian sooty dunnart and also the best jazz horn player on Kangaroo Island! One night, just before a terrible bushfire begins he disappears, and the other animals think he is lost forever. A heartwarming story about friendship, never giving up hope, and the power of music to bring us together.
 
THEMES
Endangered Animals
Bushfires
Friendship
Music
 
STUDY NOTES

• Before reading the story, look at the front cover and see if you can predict what the story might be about. Use the Visual Thinking routine 'See Think Wonder' shown below to help you. What is your ‘Wonder’ question?
• What is a dunnart? Use an online database or search books from the non-fiction section 591.6 in your library to find out.  
• Davey is endangered. What does that mean?
• What clues in the story tell you that Davey might be endangered?
• Where does the story take place and what makes the setting unique?
• Are any of the other animals mentioned in the story endangered? Which ones do you think could be and why do you think so?
• Brainstorm in groups what we can do to help endangered animals. Record your thoughts and share with other groups.
• What is a bushfire? How might it affect the where an animal lives? Discuss and share with your class.​ For older students: research the effect of the 2019/2020 bushfires on the animal habitats of Kangaroo Island.
• What is jazz and why is music important to the story?
• What is your favourite animal from the story? For younger students: draw a picture of that animal. For older students: Research that animal and create a short video to share with the class using Video Editor, Movie Maker, Microsoft Sway or whichever video/presentation tool you have access to. Include your ‘Wonder’ question as part of the presentation. Remember to make sure your images are free to use or have been drawn by you. The following sites are a good starting point for images: Pixabay, Flickr, Pexels
• Think about the mood or feel of your presentation. Try and capture the viewers’ attention by choosing appropriate background wallpaper/theme/colours to reflect the mood and then add music from the free genres available in Purple Planet Music to complete your presentation.