Over the past few years of teaching Pre-Primary at a culturally diverse school in Perth, I have become more confident in acknowledging and more importantly, embedding Indigenous perspectives within our classroom environment. We started introducing Aboriginal culture through the celebration of NAIDOC week; teaching the children that Aboriginal people were the traditional owners of Australia and explaining that it meant they were the first people to call Australia their home. Our NAIDOC week activities involved learning about Aboriginal art and the way they use symbols to tell a story. Our children were given opportunities to explore different symbols and create their own stories using the Aboriginal symbols. We further explored Aboriginal Art by looking at dot paintings created by a variety of different Indigenous Artists. Children were then given opportunities to create their own dot paintings while learning about Australian animals that were of importance to the Aboriginal people.

 

 

We explored how Aboriginal people share their history and culture with storytelling. Some of our favourite stories include Finding our heart (Thomas Mayer), Welcome to Country (Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy) and most of Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan’s beautiful picture books. Children also explored music by listening to different Aboriginal musicians and creating their own ‘didgeridoos’ using recycled paper towel rolls. Last year, after stumbling across Jess from Koori Curriculum and learning more about embedding Indigenous perspectives within the class, beyond NAIDOC, we created our own ‘Acknowledgment of Country’ based on the Play School episode, which adapted the traditional Acknowledgement of Country to include a beautiful, child-friendly version that made it very simple for Pre-Primaries to understand. Since then, it has become part of our daily morning meeting where children say good morning to each other, the teachers and participate in the acknowledgment of Country.

 

 

This year, I wanted to take it a step further by creating a welcome and ‘promise’ that within our classroom we respect, celebrate and take care of Aboriginal culture. By making this promise as the classroom teacher, it has also become a part of children’s promise and filtered into their perspectives, ideas and caring for land, animals and people. We read the book ‘Welcome to Country’ (Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy) and wrote their names on a leaf as their ‘promise’ to respect and take care of the land, animals and people of Australia. As educators, we have a great platform to make a difference in children’s perspectives and understanding of Aboriginal people and their rich culture. I have learnt so much over the last three years and strongly believe that Aboriginal culture is more than just doing Dot painting for NAIDOC week. It needs to be embedded across curriculum areas and become an integrated part of our daily teaching practice and our classroom environment.

 

 

As educators, we have a great platform to make a difference in children’s perspectives and understanding of Aboriginal people and their rich culture. I have learnt so much over the last three years and strongly believe that Aboriginal culture is more than just doing Dot painting for NAIDOC week. It needs to be embedded across curriculum areas and become an integrated part of our daily teaching practice and our classroom environment.

 

 

I have so much more to learn, and I know that not I might not always get it correct, but I know that there is a huge amount of support available to educators from people like Jess (Koori Curriculum) and it is up to us to ask the questions and find the help, rather than being too worried about getting it wrong. It is crucial in helping shape the future generation as one that is inclusive and celebrates our country’s rich culture and history.

 

 

 

NAIDOC is something I enjoy planning for each year as a teacher in the younger years. A personal goal for me as a teacher is to continue learning more about our oldest Australian culture and bring this to the attention of the students I teach.

 

 

In my kindergarten classroom, our NAIDOC Week often involves engaging students in different activities to support the awareness of the Indigenous Australian culture and celebrate it. I enjoy using photos, print, video, art, music, cooking experiences and of course play-based experiences.

 

 

One common theme I enjoy revisiting with younger students, is the appreciation for how resourceful Indigenous Aussies are, using natural materials to serve so many purposes. We’re looking forward to this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations, with plenty of activities lined up to promote appreciation and recognition of our Indigenous Australians.

 

 

 

 

 

I am very fortunate to work in a school where Aboriginal language and culture are embedded in many aspects of our everyday school life.  Hence NAIDOC celebrations are not approached in a tokenistic manner but rather another opportunity at a whole school and an individual class level to engage our children in some special activities ‘celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’. Not only do we have a fabulous Yawuru Aboriginal language teacher (our children participate in weekly language/culture lessons),  we also have several Aboriginal teachers, AIEO’s, Education Assistants, our school families, and the broader community (we have a local resource centre within walking distance and an Aboriginal publishing house in our town) who’s expertise we can access.

 

 

In my class, some of the activities we organise during the week often include a look at Aboriginal artists, their artworks and the stories behind them as well as Aboriginal symbols and their meanings. We have a go at ‘representing country /our place’ using art materials and making some markings in our wonderful red pindan sand.  We celebrate the many fabulous Aboriginal authors, reading their books and one of my favorite whole school celebrations includes a ‘campfire’ night; where we rotate to different stations listening to locals telling stories or singing.   Of course, we do the other things like make damper, sometimes we’ve participated in dance/ face painting/activities to do with the flags/beading/rock painting etc.

 

 

It is here I would like to make mention my very big belief in the power of ‘the hidden curriculum’ meaning what is placed around your room ( ie photos, books, resources) portrays what is valued. In saying that, with over 70% of our children being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background it is paramount their cultures are represented throughout our school and classrooms and programs.  As with ALL my children they ALL deserve that sense of BELONGING, they deserve to celebrate always, not just one week of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much to the incredible Kate, Noeleen, and Jade who shared their experiences with celebrating and acknowledging Aboriginal Cultures in the classroom, not only during NAIDOC week but throughout the year. You absolutely need to go and check our their Instagram feed…. Wowee! We love our Insta family!

 

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