Somebody’s Land: Our Night Sky Craft is a powerful and creative resource designed to complement a classroom reading of Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing and David Hardy. This reflective activity helps students explore the significance of the night sky within First Nations culture and encourages thoughtful connections between literature, identity and the natural world.

By creating a silhouette artwork and responding to a writing prompt, students build on the themes introduced in the book: truth telling, connection to Country, belonging and cultural significance. This task combines visual arts and literacy to give students an expressive outlet while reinforcing their understanding of First Nations perspectives. It’s perfect for use during NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week, or any unit that explores culture and storytelling through creative means.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Reflect on the cultural significance of the night sky in First Nations stories
• ✅ Respond to a literature-based writing prompt with personal insight and understanding
• ✅ Combine visual and written expression to demonstrate comprehension and creativity
• ✅ Create a symbolic silhouette artwork that connects to the themes of the text

What’s Included:

• Australian animal silhouette templates
• Writing templates with sentence prompt: “The night sky is important to First Nations Australians because...”
• Three line width options for differentiation (24mm, 18mm, 14mm)
• Display banner for showcasing student work

Materials Needed:

• A4 or A3 white cardstock for painting the background
• Blue and purple Edicol dye or watercolour paint
• Silver glitter or white paint for star effects
• Silver foil or silver paper for the moon
• Cotton wool for cloud texture
• Black paper for land, trees or mountains
• Scissors and glue

How to Use:

• Read Somebody’s Land with your class, focusing on themes of Country and connection
• Show examples of the night sky in First Nations artworks or Dreaming stories
• Students create a blended sky background using dye or watercolour paint
• While wet, sprinkle glitter or flick paint to represent stars
• Add a moon, clouds and black silhouette landscape elements
• Glue on an Australian animal silhouette and complete the written reflection

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a collaborative art and literacy display for NAIDOC Week or Reconciliation Week
• 💡 Connect to science discussions about constellations or seasonal sky changes
• 💡 Integrate with a broader unit on First Nations art, storytelling or symbolism
• 💡 Use in conjunction with the other resources in our Somebody’s Land Mini Book PACKAGE

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Play soft instrumental or nature-inspired music during the painting stage to support calm creativity
• 💛 Pre-cut some of the silhouette elements for younger learners or those with fine motor challenges
• 💛 Pair this task with storytelling sessions or short videos about the stars in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Somebody’s Land: Our Night Sky Craft gives students a chance to engage with culture, creativity and comprehension in one integrated learning experience. The result is a striking and symbolic piece of art that reflects their understanding and appreciation of First Nations perspectives.