Background Information

Content information:

The activities in this unit will help you to explore key aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives with your children will benefit both First Nations and non-Indigenous children.

For any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in your centre, exploring their culture plays a key role in their development, identity and self-esteem, and contributes to the overall well-being of the child.

For non-Indigenous children, embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their early education experiences is fundamental in creating inclusive and accepting attitudes, and positive race relations. These perspectives are also about celebrating different cultures and the uniqueness of individuals. It is enriching for children to experience the different perspectives and diverse human experiences other cultures can bring to the melting pot.

For more information about why you should aim to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives at your centre - including terms of reference and cultural protocols - visit Caring for Country – Learning for Educators.
To access more activities to support you in exploring and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories in your centre and activities, click here.

It is strongly recommended that you complete these Tuning In Introductory Lessons before sharing any of the Themed Activities with children. The Tuning In Introductory Lessons will guide you to find out more about the Traditional Owners of your area. Having this information will support you in authentically embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in your room and centre as well as guiding you to build genuine relationships with the Traditional Owners of your area.

Part A: Discussion

Step 1.

Take your children to an outdoor space where they can all sit down. Once they are sitting, invite them to close their eyes and listen to the sounds of the outdoors.

After a short period of time, invite them to open their eyes and share:

I wonder what you could hear?
Now that your eyes are open, I wonder if you can see the things that were making the noise?
I wonder what these sounds made you think about?
I wonder what these sounds made you feel?

Explain to children that sitting quietly and using our senses (like hearing, seeing, smelling, touching and tasting) is a great way to get to know the place that we live a bit better.

Step 2.

You can then explain that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a deep connection to the place where they live and the place where their family is from. This is known as ‘Connection to Country’. Country can be described as all the things that make up the place that you live in, including the soil, plants, animals, waterways, mountains, sky and people. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Country is a part of who they are; it isn’t just something they walk and play on but is also something that is part of them.

Part B: Activity

Step 1.

You can then invite children to think of a place that is special to them and that makes them feel good when they spend time there. This could be a park, a beach, someone’s house or even their own backyard or balcony.

Invite children to share a story about this place with the group.

Step 2.

Independently, children could create an artwork about this place that includes them enjoying their time in this place. You could annotate it with their explanation of why this place is important to them, and how it makes them feel.

Part C: Possible Lines of Development

Children may have their own ideas about how to extend this activity with the materials used in this activity, or you could consider the following:

Invite children to suggest what they like about the yard at the centre: I wonder what your favourite parts are? I wonder if you have favourite plants? I wonder if you ever see animals in your yard?
Explore other Caring for Country Introductory Lessons.

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning, listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenge and persisting when difficulty arises
Wellbeing	Being involved

Caring for Country: What is Connection to Country?

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In this activity