‘Gay penguins’ to teach NSW school children about same sex relationships: Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
“Gay Penguins” to teach preschoolers about same-sex relationships as part of a new syllabus
- The love story of gay penguins is part of the school syllabus
- Sphen and Magic raised a chick at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Two gay penguins who have successfully raised a chick together will teach schoolchildren about same-sex relationships as part of a new syllabus for children from kindergarten through sophomore year.
The New South Wales Teachers Federation has partnered with Sea Life Sydney Aquarium to educate young students on sensitive issues such as consent and sexuality.
The six lessons, called ‘Love in all shapes and sizes’, tell the story of the Antarctic lovebirds Sphen and Magic and their five-year relationship.
The two males developed a strong bond in 2018 and became inseparable shortly before the breeding season.
Animal control workers at the tourist attraction said the lovelorn couple would be romantically waddling around their enclosure together.
The six lessons, called “Love in all shapes and sizes,” tell the story of Antarctic lovebirds Sphen and Magic and their five-year relationship (Sea Life Sydney Aquarium is pictured)
Soon they started collecting pebbles to make a nest – something Gentoo penguins on Macquarie Island do to keep their eggs warm.
“To ensure the pair weren’t banned from the season, Magic and Sphen were given a dummy egg to help them practice incubating and develop their skills,” says the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium.
‘They were absolute naturals and showed great care for their egg, so much so that the Sea Life Sydney team fostered a real egg for them from another couple who had two.
In October 2018, the two successfully hatched baby SPHENGIC!
‘Today the pair is still going strong and they are paired to a third breeding season!’
Animal control workers at the tourist attraction said the lovelorn couple (pictured) would be romantically waddling around their enclosure together
The non-mandatory classes can be taken online or in the aquarium.
The NSW Teachers Federation said on Facebook that members “can access a unit of work … aligned with the NSW syllabus, in the Knowledge Center section of the member portal on the Federation’s website.”
“The unit of work can be used in its entirety, or learning activities can be used as standalone activities or as part of your program.”