- Thursday 16 May 2019
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The Australian Curriculum places high emphasis on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in their cross-curriculum priorities. For non-Aboriginal Australian teachers, it may be difficult to fully understand the complex and diverse cultures. It is essential, therefore, to find good-quality resources for teacher background information and student resources that will address this priority.
The theme for NAIDOC Week 2019 is 'Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let's work together for a shared future'. By understanding our shared past we can come to true reconciliation and healing for both sides. The theme also focuses on the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the decision-making in Australia's democracy. 2019 is also celebrated as the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages; it’s time for knowledge to be heard through voice.
The NAIDOC website provides immeasurable resources for teachers and students. There is a range of teaching ideas that directly support teachers in addressing the Australian Curriculum: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture cross-curriculum priority, with content that can be used across multiple learning areas and stages/grades. Check out the resources tab for invaluable resources for 2019: https://www.naidoc.org.au/resources/teaching-guides.
Click on the image below to download The 2019 NAIDOC Week poster.
Books
- Papunya School book of country and history by Nadia Wheatley - Suitable for Early Years.
- The bat and the crocodile; Dunbi the owl, the echidna and the shade tree; How the kangaroo got their tails; How the birds got their colours; The kangaroo and the porpoise; Warnayarra - The rainbow snake; When the snake bites the sun - series by Pamela Lofts of traditional Aboriginal stories suitable for K–2
- Noongar Mambara Bakitj, a story retold by Kim Scott and Lomas Roberts - The story is also written in Wirlomin Noongar language. Suitable for middle and upper primary.
- View animated videos of Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, such as:
Mirram the Kangaroo and Warreen the Wombat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDJrnldb08o
Tiddalick the Frog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y3Ta5xcKV4
The rainbow serpent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCuuRRrfOXo
Biladurang the platypus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDl5QwAR8DI
How the Kangaroo got its pouch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sWFAGGWvUA
Girawu the Goanna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWvoTZxvEs8
Wayambeh the Turtle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpzDvpZ0hMg
- Read popular Dreamtime stories such as Eaglehawk and Crow, Emu and the Jabiru, How the water got to the plains, Illawarra and the five islands and Red Waratah at https://dreamtime.net.au/dreaming/story-list/ or using print versions of Aboriginal Dreamtime stories.
For older students or teacher background information
- APAC consultants have 300 sample lesson plans that feature an Aboriginal context in all learning areas, with related lessons being combined into units. The website will be updated as more units are completed: http://det.wa.edu.au/aboriginaleducation/apac/detcms/navigation/lesson-plans/.
- You can visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens for more information on traditional plant use: http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/visiting/exploring/aboriginal-trail/.
- There are also a great list of research themes, including Native title and traditional ownership, Governance and public policy, Health and wellbeing, Land and water, Languages and cultural expression and Culture and heritage.
- The Australian Curriculum website also has information and elaborations on how you can incorporate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curricular priority in science. Read more on their website: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-histories-and-cultures/.
