Year 4 Spotlight

Australian History & Indigenous Perspectives

This term, Year 4 have been busy understanding, acknowledging, and learning the ancient knowledge of Aboriginal cultures and beliefs.

Our favourite part of the unit was our visit to CERES for an Indigenous Perspectives excursion. Here are some of the students highlights:

On Friday we went to CERES to learn about Aboriginal Culture. We went to learn from Aunty Cathy about the dreamtime story called Tiddalik the Frog. The message from the story was to only take what you need from country and don’t be greedy. Then we went with Subik to taste native plants such as, warrigal greens, pigface, saltbush and river mint. Our favourite was the river mint. We also walked by the Merri Creek, or in Woiwurrung, Merri Merri. We played Mangrook which is a traditional sport from aboriginal people. We had an amazing time.

~ Joel H & Oscar Z, 4B

We went on the bus and travelled to CERES to learn about Indigenous Perspectives. I learned about native plants and that pigface is actually edible. My favourite plant I tried was the river mint. I liked learning some new words in Woiwurrung. The Merri Creek is called Merri Merri.

~ Lexi W, 4B

Today I'm finding myself eating and drinking plants. Here are some of them... pigface, saltbush, warrigal greens and karkalla and river mint.

In my class, 4A, everyone's favourite was river mint. In the past, it was used for medicine. The least favourite was pigface, it was bitter and gross.

~ Mabel F, 4A

After finding myself, sitting on a cobblestone, I was actually thrilled to see the creek gushing down the waterway.

To be in the moment, and to share my secretive feelings, with this safe astonishing place.

Dreaming the Dream Time stories. Dreaming the creek to be as beautiful as it is. Without plastic or food scraps, or even just junk. Dreaming the world a better place – the creek a better place for the animals, dreaming the dream time stories.

~ Roxy S, 4A

Our first activity was with Chloe. First, we sat down and she read us a Dreamtime story. Then, we went on a native walk and with a partner, tried to spot different things that were on the list. Last of all, we sat down again, and we got to feel a round ball made out of charcoal and possum skin. We got to play an aboriginal game that’s a lot like soccer and football mixed together called Mangrook.

~ Lily H, 4C

My favourite was when a person called Subik showed us four native plants that can be eaten. Pigface was used in an emergency if you had no water since you could get water out of them. When I tried it, it tasted a little salty but not like sea water.

~ Jasper C, 4C

~ Year 4 teachers (Chiara, Jade & Elise) and Students