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.

Before beginning this activity, it is strongly recommended that you complete the Tuning In Introductory Lessons. These activities 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 children outside to a place where you can all sit down. Ask children to sit down and place their hands on the ground:

I wonder how the earth feels under your hands?

Invite children to share their responses and prompt children with statements that focus on the sense of touch:

the grass feels cool and tickly
the sand feels soft and slippery
the concrete feels hard and smooth.

Step 2.

Now invite children to lie down and repeat the sensory exploration:

I wonder how the earth feels under your back, head, legs and feet?

Invite children to share their observations.

Explain to children that for many of us, we don’t often take the time to stop and feel the earth beneath us, or to think about how the earth feels and how we move upon it. But we are all connected to the earth in many ways; we eat the food that grows from the earth, we drink the water, we use its resources (like wood and stone and metal) for building, and we enjoy its scenery.

For some cultures, the connection to the earth is stronger than this. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a very strong connection to the earth known as ‘Connection to Country’. This is a deep connection to the place where they live and the place where their family is from. 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.

Remind children of the Country they are on (refer to this map).

Part B: Activity

Nature provides limitless opportunities for developing creativity. Materials provided by nature stimulate our senses and promote development. Using natural materials for play and craft activities requires problem solving and creativity; things don’t fit together as neatly as Lego, and sticky tape doesn’t always work on rocks! Traditional cultures - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures - have deep connections to the land and to the natural objects found on their land. These objects may be used, for example, to create tools, glue, ovens, ropes, weapons, ornaments or artworks. Reminding children that nature can provide us with everything we need is a wonderful way to help children start looking at the world around them as something they can interact with, rather than observe.

Step 1.

Share the natural materials you and the children/families collected earlier. Spend some time inspecting these materials and talking about what they are and where they come from. Consider the following questions in your discussion:

I wonder what this is?
I wonder where this comes from?
I wonder how you might be connected to this item? For example, it comes from a tree that is outside your centre, you like the way the grass feels when you rub it on your arm, you can see an animal face on the leaf.

Step 2.

Now work with children to create an artwork using these materials. This could be:

a painting where you use different coloured soil to paint on cardboard and then decorate with other natural materials
a montage where you stick the materials to some cardboard
a mandala where you arrange the materials on the floor to photograph
another form of art of your choice.

You could also incorporate the name of the Country you are based on into the artwork.

Display your artwork where children and families can see. Use the artwork to remind children of the Country where children live and play.

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:

Create musical instruments out of natural materials. For example, add seedpods to plastic tubs or tin cans (ensure sharp edges are covered in masking tape), tap together sticks or pebbles, or put water in a bottle to shake. Invite children to experiment with different sounds and different combinations of materials.
Mini world. Take the materials you have collected and use them to make a mini world in the sandpit. Could the leaves and grasses be forests? Can the pebbles be houses? What might the feathers be?
Explore other Caring for Country Themed Activities.

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: Earth Connections

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