What is National Asthma Awareness Week?

National Asthma week which aims to promote awareness of asthma to the general population and highlight ways to help people manage asthma.

When is National Asthma Awareness Week?

From Monday, 1st to the 7th September

Activities:

• Group time: Learning about what is asthma, how it affects the lungs when certain triggers cause swelling and a narrowing of the airways and ways to prevent it.
• Have a display puffer for the children to be familiar with and their peers who have to carry one with them. 
• Setting up drama play area as a hospital for children to role play medical scenarios
• Centre's can focus during the week to ensure families have provided an up-to-date copy their child’s Asthma Action Plan
• Grouptime: Picture stories for children regarding Asthma
  
  • The Lion Who Had Asthma by Jonathan London, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
  • I Have Asthma, What Does That Mean? By Wendy Chen
  • I Have Asthma (What Do You Know About? Books) by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
  • Taking Asthma to School (Special Kids in School Series) (Special Kids in Schools Series) by Barbara Mitchell
  • Zooallergy : A Fun Story About Allergy and Asthma Triggers by Terry Ravanelli

What is National Wattle Day?

Wattle Day is a day of celebration in Australia on the first day of September each year, which is the official start of the Australian spring. This is the time when many Acacia species (commonly called wattles in Australia), are in flower. So, people wear a sprig of the flowers and leaves to celebrate the day.

The day was originally intended to promote patriotism for the new nation of Australia.

When is National Wattle Day?

Friday, 1 September

Activities:

• Grouptime Stories:
  • Possum And Wattle: Little Hare Books by Bronwyn Bancroft
  • Why I Love Australia: Little Hare Books by Bronwyn Bancroft
• Colour in your own Wattle Day badge
• Children to bring in an old what shirt to paint green and gold of the wattle and wear it on National Wattle Day
• Group movement activity in learining "Folk dancing"
• Learning and listening to Wattle Day Songs
  • Wattle Day Song by David & Jan Raff
  • Where the Wattles Bloom by John Williams

What is World Humanitarian Day?

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.

When is World Humanitarian Day?

Saturday, 19 August

Activities:

• Do a Good Deed on World Humanitarian Day
  • Ask families and staff to bring in food and items to donate to the poor
  • Donate items you no longer need to the homeless and less fortunate for them to have.
• Bring in a gold coin and raise money to donate to the World Humanitarian Day - https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1631&1631.donation=form1

What is International Left Handers Day?

International Left Handers Day is an international day observed annually on August 13 to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left handers.

When is International Left Handers Day?

Sunday, 13 August

Activities:

• Create your own lefty zone:
  • Cutting – using right-handed scissors in left hand is an excellent example of totally right-biased design that doesn’t work well.
  • Drawing a measured line with a ruler
  • Having the computer mouse on the left of the keyboard and try drawing a shape on screen, or clicking and dragging – we usually have to do this with our right hand as the mouse is shared, and always set up for right-handed users 
  • Pour from water jugs using your left hand
  • Eating & drinking – reverse cutlery and have drink in left hand
  • If you have left handed guitar, give lessons to the right-handers.
  • Practice recorder or other instruments with hands reversed (top and bottom)
  • Illustrate an image with your left hand or write your name
• Group lesson - Children learning their left from their right (turn into a phycial activity where children need to listen and follow verbal instructions to turn left, right, forward and backwards) 
• Infants room - Dance to the Hokey Pokey

What is International Youth Day?

International Youth Day is to raise awareness designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to the problems young people face today and to unite and celebrate youth worldwide.The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.

2023 Theme: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”
To draw worldwide focus towards various issues surrounding the youths.

When is International Youth Day?

Saturday, 12 August

Activities:

• Staff project - Be Aware of the UN’s Agenda for Sustainable Development & The Global Goals.
• Teach the children about sustainable development
• Encourage and empower the children to play a role in their own future.