Background Information for Teachers
NOTE: A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS DIRECTLY COPIED FROM VARIOUS WEBSITES. THE FUNCTION OF THIS PAGE IS TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THE RELEVANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CONTEXT OF THE KNOWLEDGE FOR TEACHERS WHEN PLANNING TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTIVITIES. A LINK TO THE WEBSITE WHERE THE TEXT IS LIFTED FROM IS PROVIDED AT THE END OF EACH SECTION.
Activity 1: Bushfires
Fire-stick Farming "When Aboriginal people arrived in northern Australia probably more than 50,000 years ago, they found an environment shaped by fires sparked by lightning at the time of year the country is most flammable when the dry season starts giving way to the wet. Aboriginal people altered the pattern, developing complex 'fire-stick' management regimes. Fire had a number of functions in Aboriginal culture. One use was for signaling, the once well-known smoke signals in movies. Another was for clearing tracks through the bush and keeping poisonous snakes away from them, making it easier to move through the bush. This function of fire was used regularly to keep tracks clear in thick bush in the Blue Mountains and the dense tea-tree scrub in western Tasmania. It was also used to keep tracks clear though the tall tropical grasslands of Arnhem Land. All across the continent fire was used to flush animals from grass to make them easier to hunt." Reference: Monroe, M. H. (n.d.). Fire-Stick Farmers. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from http://austhrutime.com/fire-stick_farmers.htm |
Image:
Martu man burning off spinifex, fire-stick farming, Great Sandy Desert, 1996. Photo: Mike Smith. |
Resource: Australian Museum "Museum in a Box: Cultural History"
The Cultural History box examines the history of Indigneous Australians in New South Wales. It will help students understand that Australia has a history that spans thousands of years and to recognise that the view of history depends on who is telling it. Students will use a range of tools, including archaeology, oral histories, written histories and art, to find out about the past and experience Australian history from Indigenous Australians perspectives. Box Contents:
|
Activity 3: Cultural Excursion
Why an excursion?
Field trips expand children's learning through active hands-on experience with the rich resources of the local community. Field trips increase student knowledge and understanding of a subject and add realism to the topic of study.
These excursions provide an opportunity for teachers and students to learn from experienced Aboriginal leaders about traditional Aboriginal culture in the natural environment.
Why an excursion?
Field trips expand children's learning through active hands-on experience with the rich resources of the local community. Field trips increase student knowledge and understanding of a subject and add realism to the topic of study.
These excursions provide an opportunity for teachers and students to learn from experienced Aboriginal leaders about traditional Aboriginal culture in the natural environment.
Excursion Planning Checklist for Teachers
- Excursion proposal
- Risk assessment
- Letter to the Principal
- Letter to Parents
- Permission slip
- Proposed itinerary
- Pre-Lesson (How will you prepare your students?)
- Post-Lesson (How will you incorporate the new learning and experiences? Follow up?)