Take flight at the South Australian Museum these school holidays with a colourful and creative workshop exploring the science of native birdlife.

Join us for a tour of our Biodiversity Gallery (45 minutes) where we’ll take a closer look at our feathered friends and learn about how they’ve adapted to survive and thrive through biomimicry and other fascinating tricks.

Then, we’ll put those lessons into practice by decorating our own kite inspired by the colours and patterns of the native birds we’ve seen in the Museum’s collection.

This 90-minute workshop is led by Heidi, our Learning Program Officer. Each participant will receive their own kite kit and see the Museum’s taxidermy specimens up close.

Please note: An accompanying adult is required to stay with the participant for the duration of the workshop if the child is under 16. Accompanying adults do not require a ticket. Kite-making requires some fine motor skills, and younger children may need assistance with some parts of this workshop. Heidi is an experienced teacher but can't help everyone at once; accompanying adults must be prepared to support your child/children where required.

What makes this a sensory-friendly event?
This is a sensory-friendly version of our Winging It at the Museum: School Holiday Program. This workshop will be run later in the day when the Museum is typically less crowded, less noisy and will have fewer participants than the regular sessions. The kite decorating part of the workshop will be in a quite space separate from the main Museum galleries. We will also have our sensory backpacks available to borrow for the duration of the workshop, which include noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys, communication cards and a soft toy.

Important Notes

This workshop is aimed at 7-17 year olds. No prior knowledge or experience is required.
Meet in the Main Foyer by our Egyptian column to have your tickets scanned. Our workshop leader will then guide you to the location of the workshop.

Frequently asked questions:

Will my child get to take the kite home?
Yes. Each child will receive their own kite kit and be able to take their masterpiece home.

My child is young; will the tour be appropriate for them?
This workshop is aimed at 7 to 17-year olds. However, Heidi will adapt the content to suit the audience on the day. The tour will go for approximately 45 minutes so your child will need to be able to walk around the gallery for that amount of time.

How long will we get to decorate the kite?
Approximately 45 minutes is set aside for assembling and decorating your kite.

Will I get to work with my child?
We would love for you to stay to work on your kite with your child. If your child is under 16, you must stay to supervise your child.

What materials are used to decorate the kite?
We will be using markers so designs can be easily finished at home if required.

What is the kite made of?
It will be made from wood and light plastic parachute material.

Image: Two young children observing taxidermy birds in the South Australian Museum's Biodiversity Gallery