Video transcript – Connecting with practice: Discussing butterflies’ markings

  1. Home
  2. Video transcript – Connecting with practice: Discussing butterflies’ markings

This video demonstrates the use of an image on an iPad by an educator and several four-year-old children to discuss protective markings on a butterfly’s wings. It features the tone, content and nature of educators’ interactions and verbal communication, and the impact on children’s learning.

00:00 – 00:05
Audio: [Music]
Visual description: The ECRH logo followed by the video title appear on a white background: ECRH, Early Childhood Resource Hub. Connection with practice: Discussing butterflies' markings.

00:06 – 00:43
Audio: [Ambient sounds of children playing in the outdoor area of a children’s education and care service.]
Educator: That’s the sort of thing that frightens you, but the sort of thing that might frighten an owl or a tawny frogmouth or different bird are these spots. And what do they look like? 
Boy 1: Eyes.
Educator: They look like eyes. Are they really eyes?
Boy 1: No.
Educator: Why are they there, then?
Boy 2: The butterflies, they don’t... Scared animals don’t know that they’re butterflies.
Educator: You’re right. The other animals don’t know they’re butterflies. They think they’re a bigger creature because these look like eyes, don’t they, on the edge of the butterfly? 
Visual description: In an outdoor play area, an educator and three small children wearing hats sit around a table viewing an iPad on a green stand. In an overhead shot behind the educator and children, we see an image of a brown butterfly with its wings open on the tablet screen. The educator is pointing to the large eye-shapes on the bottom of each wing. The camera returns to its original position in front of the table as the educator and children continue their discussion. 

00:44 – 01:10
Audio: [Ambient sounds of children playing in the outdoor area of a children’s education and care service.]
Educator: So when an owl comes along and sees that, what do you think he would think? What will he think when he comes along and sees this?
Boy 2: He’ll see the eyes and he’ll get scared.
Educator: He will. Will he think it’s a butterfly?
Children: No.
Girl: He’ll think it’s a very big creature. 
Educator: Think it’s a very big creature, and he’ll think to himself, “Ooh, I better not have him for my supper, then.”
Visual description: Another boy wearing a hat joins the group as they continue their discussion. He looks at the image on the screen.

01:11 – 02:01
Audio: [Ambient sounds of children playing in the outdoor area of a children’s education and care service.]
Boy 1: That... Humans like butterflies.
Educator [from off-screen]: Can you ask Ms Robertson if she’s got them? Yeah. Sorry. What did you say?
Boy 1: Humans like butterflies.
Educator [from off-screen]: You’re right. We like butterflies, don’t we?
Boy 1: Yeah.
Educator: We like them. Why do we like them, do you think?
Boy 2 [from off-screen]: They’re beautiful. They’re beautiful.
Educator [from off-screen]: They do look beautiful. And they’re very good for the garden, aren't they?
Boy 2: And the predators eat them.
Educator [from off-screen]: The predators eat them. Yes, you’re right, they do. So, what here is stopping the predators eat them? Why won't predators eat this particular butterfly?
Girl: Because it has eyes on them and they think... it’s actually a big creature.
Educator: Oh, OK, so the predator will come along and see those, think it’s a big creature, and not eat it? Right. 
Visual description: In close-up, the girl looks at boy 1 as he shares his thoughts with the group. The camera pans right to the girl and educator. In an overhead shot, we see a close-up of the butterfly image on the tablet screen. In a series of close-ups, we see boy 2 sharing his thoughts, an image of the butterfly and the girl responding to the educator, who is positioned on the right of the screen.    

02:02 – 02:11
Audio: [Music]
Visual description: The ECRH logo followed by the video production credits and copyright appear on a white background: ECRH, Early Childhood Resource Hub. www.ecrh.edu.au. Copyright 2015 Commonwealth of Australia. Source: National Quality Standard Professional Learning Program – Early Childhood Australia.

Go back to Connecting with practice videos.