#abcsplash

Student's are currently learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Histories and Culture, which is one of the key cross curricular priorities located within the Victorian Curriculum.

The topic focus for this literacy lesson is indigenous artefacts, with the front-loading activity going to be centred on the 'didgeridoo', with students to watch an interactive video from ABC Splash titled 'Making the didjeridu: inspiration and culture'. The short clip explains to students how a didgeridoo is made as well as its cultural significance.

The front-loading activity I would use is a 'KWL Chart', which requires students to respond to three questions. The first section of the KWL Chart requires student's to write down what they know about the specific topic, the second section requires student to write down what they wish to find out about the topic and lastly after students watch the short clip, they will be able to write down some things they have learnt about the topic.

The KWL Chart is a great tool for promote active thinking amongst the students, whilst it can be used as a diagnostic assessment tool for teachers and help with future planning of indigenous lessons.

References

The video I chose to watch was “So much beauty in the people of Darwin”. This video really opens your eyes to the culture diversity and the contribution many cultures have to a place within Australia. It really highlights many cultures that we have within Australia and the history of people carries with them.

 By Grade 6 level students should have some prior knowledge about ATSI and their history and culture. Most students should have an understanding to where Aboriginal sites and families live. Before starting the video I would pose some questions – What is culture? Where is culture? Who has culture? What are the types of cultures? As a frontloading activity I would begin with the Grade 6 Students watching the video ABC splash and then lead into a discussion things the students find interesting, might recognises and teacher ask the students to raise their hand to some questions - if they were born in another county, if your parents were born in another country, if your grandparents were born in another country, “if your great-grandparents were born in another country and so on till everyone has their hand up”. All students to look around the room and see everyone has someone in their family that has come from a different culture/country.

 The class would watch the video again and this time looking out anything learnt about different cultures and the differences to their own culture. Again another discussion will occur about the different cultures within the video and even in society around them. Using one of the discussed cultures, in small groups students are to pick a way to convey the meaning and traditions of these cultures. They can get creative by using music, visual art, dreamtime stories, preforming etc. Let their mind take them anywhere. After a given time the groups will present their idea to the class.

http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/103110/developing-bush-tucker-into-a-seed-crop

After watching this video, I would like to see a local indigenous elder visit the school and talk to students about the kinds of foods the local land offers. Where possible, this may also involve a short trip to a local park or reserve where students can explore the land and touch, smell and possibly even taste some of the local bush tucker with guidance from the elder.