Aboriginal Education

Aboriginal education literature, art and instrument learning experiences

Students from Year 4 to Year 6 have been collaborating with Mr Roberts and Mrs Barkley on Friday afternoons investigating country and culture through authentic learning experiences and representing their ideas through art. 

Their newest project is to create class sets of drum sticks made out of pool noodles. Our Aboriginal students are creating artworks that wrap around the centre of the drum sticks that are inspired by their culture and personal stories. 

Our fabulous students will then share this learning experience with younger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders students across the school. We can't wait to see the rest of the artworks look and use the drumsticks to build our drumming skills while responding to music. An added bonus will be the cardio fitness that this exercise will also increase.

Some student feedback about their learning experiences:

Jarvis shared, "I enjoyed creating the drum sticks because it was good fun."

Victoria said, " I enjoyed reading the story books and creating art for our school."

Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through literacy

Stage 3 students and teachers from Meerkats and Chameleons collaborated with Mrs Barkley this week to explore the book Strangers on Country written by Dave Hartley & Kirsty Murray and illustrated by Dub Leffler.

This unique book explores historical perspectives of both First Australians and white colonisers. The stories in this book are based on true stories that are documented in historical records.  

The author Dave Hartley is a proud descendant of the Barunggam people of Queensland. The author Kirsty Murray is descended from convicts and early immigrants.

Each story is told through two historical fiction narratives. The first is from the point of view of an Indigenous person who befriends the stranger in their land. The second is from the point of view of the castaway or convict who is given refuge. At the end of each chapter there is a section of facts and information. 

Throughout the week, Stage 3 students have explored the story of 'Sassy' a young member of the Wanthaala clan of the Pam Malngkana (people of the Sand Beach) and 'Narcisse Pelletier'  (a French sailor on his first voyage) who met when Narcisse's ship was wrecked and he was abandoned by his crew on the North East Cape York Peninsula in QLD. The text has helped both students and teachers better understand Australia's history and the perspectives of First Australians. We have also used the story as a stimulus to build our comprehension and writing skills.

Basket Weaving

Our wonderful parent Pennie, has continued basket weaving with our Stage 3 students on Wednesdays. A big thankyou to Pennie for leading this fantastic activity and teaching us all about Aboriginal culture!