Shark Bay Daisy: our 2027 OSHC Programming Diary cover, and 3 ways to explore it with school-age children
Meet Pembertonia latisquamea, the Shark Bay daisy on our 2027 OSHC Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary, plus three MTOP-linked ideas for school-age care.
Each of our 2027 covers is named after an Australian native plant. The OSHC Weekly Programming and Reflection Diary wears Shark Bay Daisy, and here is a little about it, plus three easy ways to explore it with your school-age children.
Meet the Shark Bay Daisy
Pembertonia latisquamea is a daisy from the country around Shark Bay on Western Australia's coast, a World Heritage area famous for dolphins, dugongs and some of the oldest life forms on Earth. It is the only species in its genus, botanically speaking, one of a kind.
We chose it for the OSHC programming diary because that is the heart of school-age care: a room full of one-of-a-kind people, each needing to be seen.
Bring it into your program
Three simple experiences, each with a link to MTOP (My Time, Our Place) so you can drop it straight into your planning.
1. One of a kind
The Shark Bay daisy has no botanical siblings. Challenge each child to research another one-of-a-kind Australian species and make a poster or slideshow to teach the group. End with the obvious question: what makes YOU one of a kind?
MTOP: Outcome 1 (children have a strong sense of identity) and Outcome 4 (confident and involved learners).
2. Map the bay
Find Shark Bay on a map, then dig into what World Heritage means and vote on which Australian place the group would nominate next, with arguments to back it up.
MTOP: Outcome 2 (children are connected with and contribute to their world).
3. Daisy geometry
Daisies are natural mandalas. Collect fallen petals, leaves, seeds and stones and build giant symmetrical mandala art in the yard, photograph from above before the wind claims it.
MTOP: Outcome 4 (children transfer mathematical thinking) and Outcome 5 (children express ideas through design).
Notice and document
As the children explore, capture their questions, plans and verdicts in your OSHC Programming Diary. That is the Butler Method in action, planning from real interest and making the learning visible.
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