Hey Cassowary | Educational Children’s Song

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Info About Cassowaries

Interesting facts about the cassowary from Curiosity Capers, friends of Caper Kids Music.

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Listen to the educational song Hey Cassowary by Caper Kids Music on YouTube

Info about the Song, Hey Cassowary

This song by Caper Kids Music delicately balances the beauty of this ancient Australasian bird with its more dangerous qualities. With its catchy chorus featuring hand-claps and ukulele, you’ll be singing along in no time, and maybe feeling a little uncertain too.

10 Facts about Cassowaries

1. Rainforest Heavyweight: The cassowary is the largest native vertebrate in the Australian rainforest.

2. Second- Heaviest Bird: Ostriches take the crown, but cassowaries are the second-heaviest birds on Earth, with females reaching up to 167 pounds (76kg).

3. Tall But Not the Tallest: Cassowaries are the third-tallest birds in the world, following ostriches and emus, reaching heights of up to 6 feet.

4. Dino Feet: The song isn't wrong! Cassowaries have large feet with sharp claws, reminiscent of dinosaurs

5. Fruity Diet: These birds are primarily frugivores, meaning they feast on fruits and berries.

6. High Jumpers: Don't underestimate their height! Cassowaries can jump up to 7 feet (2.1m), allowing them to reach fruits on higher branches.

7. Surprisingly Omnivorous: While fruits are their favorite, cassowaries will also eat fungi, insects, and even small animals.

8. Recycling Champions: The lyrics in the song hit the nail on the head! Cassowaries sometimes consume their own droppings to extract additional nutrients.

9. Ancient Lineage: Cassowaries are living fossils, with a lineage tracing back 60 million years.

10. Feisty Feathers: Despite their beauty, cassowaries can be dangerous. Their powerful legs and sharp claws can inflict serious injuries.

Hey Cassowary Song Lyrics

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary.

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary

Out in the rainforest somewhere near a beach is a bird, scratching round with dinosaur like feet

In Australia’s wet tropics, or Papua New Guinea, there’s a strong and fearsome bird called a cassowary

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary.

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary

Standing tall on two long legs, the cassowary’s stronger than its emu friends

But it is slightly shorter than its emu mates, it’s 1.8 metres tall taking second place

Don’t be mistaken, bout this ancient bird, their legs are strong, claws are sharp and kicks can really hurt

With one big kick, this animal can kill, crush your bones, cut you up, or peck you like a drill

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary 

For 60 million years this bird has been alive, eating fruits, eating plants and insects that it finds

And sometimes when it’s hungry and there’s nothing else to it, it eats its own fruity poo as a little treat

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary

Hey Cassowary O Cassowary you so look nice but you are kind of scary

look nice but you are kind of scary

FREE Coloring In Page and Word Search for Hey Cassowary

You’ve seen the educational video from Curiosity Capers, you’ve heard the song from Caper Kids Music, it’s now time to download and print off these fantastically free coloring in pages from Caper Kids Music.

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Click to download a FREE coloring page of a cassowary

FREE download of a cassowary coloring page from Caper Kids Music

Word search worksheet with answers for the song Hey Cassowary by Caper Kids Music

Lesson Plan: The Curious Cassowary - Rainforest Heavyweight

Learning Outcomes	Activities	Connections
Students will learn about the cassowary, a flightless bird and the largest native animal in the Australian rainforest.	Introduction (storytelling, picture)	The story and picture introduce the cassowary, sparking curiosity about this unique rainforest creature.
Students will be able to identify key physical characteristics of the cassowary (size, feet, claws).	Activity 1 (using video or no video)	The video (or teacher explanation) highlights the cassowary's size, second-heaviest bird status, and dinosaur-like feet, connecting these features to its adaptations.
Students will understand the cassowary's diet and its role in the rainforest ecosystem.	Activity 3 (song)	The song mentions the cassowary's diet (fruits) and can be used to discuss its role in seed dispersal within the rainforest.
Students will appreciate the cassowary's unique adaptations and its prehistoric connection.	Activity 1 (using video or no video), Activity 3 (song)	The video (or teacher explanation) and the song both mention the cassowary's powerful legs, claws, and long history, fostering appreciation for its unique adaptations and connection to dinosaurs.

Target Age Group: Primary School Children (Adjust difficulty based on specific age)

Subjects: Science, Art, Music

Learning Objectives:

• Students will learn about the cassowary, a flightless bird and the largest native animal in the Australian rainforest.

• Students will be able to identify key physical characteristics of the cassowary (size, feet, claws).

• Students will understand the cassowary's diet and its role in the rainforest ecosystem.

• Students will appreciate the cassowary's unique adaptations and its prehistoric connection.

Materials:

• Projector and screen

• Coloring pages of cassowaries (You can find these online or create your own)

• Word search worksheet with vocabulary related to cassowaries

• “Hey Cassowary” song by Caper Kids Music (prepared for playing)

• “The Cassowary” YouTube video by Curiosity Capers

Lesson Duration: 30 - 45 minutes

Lesson Procedure:

Introduction (5 minutes):

1. Storytelling: Start by telling a story about a mysterious rainforest creature. Describe its large size, colorful feathers, and powerful legs. Ask students to guess what animal it might be.

2. Introducing the Cassowary: Show a picture of a cassowary and reveal it as the rainforest heavyweight. Discuss its title as the largest native vertebrate in Australia.

Activity 1: Cassowary Characteristics (15 minutes):

1. Option 1 (using video): Play the “The Cassowary” YouTube video by Curiosity Capers. Pause after key points and discuss the information presented. (e.g., size, second-heaviest bird, dinosaur feet).

2. Option 2 (no video): Explain the following facts about cassowaries using age-appropriate language:

   • Size: Second-heaviest bird on Earth, reaching up to 6 feet tall.

   • Appearance: Colorful feathers, large casque (helmet-like structure) on the head.

   • Feet: Three-toed feet with long, sharp claws - a reminder of dinosaurs.

3. Show pictures highlighting the cassowary's size, feet, and casque. Discuss the adaptations of these features for survival in the rainforest.

Activity 2: Word Search and Coloring (15 minutes):

1. Distribute the word search worksheet with vocabulary related to cassowaries (e.g., rainforest, heavyweight, bird, claws, fruit, jump, feathers). Students can work individually or in pairs to find the hidden words.

2. Hand out coloring pages featuring cassowaries. Encourage students to color them creatively while considering the cassowary's physical features discussed earlier.

Activity 3: Song and Movement (5 minutes):

1. Play the “Hey Cassowary” song by Caper Kids Music. Explain that the song is about the interesting facts they learned about cassowaries.

2. Encourage students to sing along and move their bodies to the music. You can come up with simple actions for the lyrics (e.g., jump for high jump, wiggle for feathers).

Wrap-up (5 minutes):

1. Briefly review the key facts about cassowaries learned today.

2. Ask students to share their favorite fact or what surprised them most.

3. (Optional) Have students draw a picture of a cassowary in its rainforest habitat.

Assessment:

• Observe student participation in discussions and activities.

• Collect completed word search worksheets to check vocabulary understanding.

• Briefly discuss students' coloring pages to see if they incorporated the cassowary's unique features.

Differentiation:

• For younger students, simplify the vocabulary and provide more visual aids.

• For older students, discuss the threats cassowaries face and conservation efforts.

• Provide different difficulty levels for the word search.

Extension Activities:

• Students can research other flightless birds around the world and create a comparison chart.

• Organize a class play where students act out the roles of different rainforest animals, including the cassowary, showcasing its interactions with its environment.

• Have students write a short story about a day in the life of a young cassowary chick.

Remember to have fun and spark curiosity about the rainforest and its fascinating animals!

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