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.

Begin this activity by inviting children to share what they know about fire by posing the following questions:

I wonder what fire looks like?
I wonder what colours are in fire?
I wonder what shapes are in fire?
I wonder if we can move like fire?
I wonder what fire sounds like?

For more information about how to support oral language development in children, click here.

Step 2.

You can then pose the question:

I wonder what is left behind after a fire has gone out?

Lead the children to the idea that when something is burned in a fire, all that remains is ash and charcoal. Sometimes pieces of wood aren’t burned all the way through and some bits have charcoal on them.

If you have examples of ash and charcoal you can share these with children.

Explain to children that in many traditional cultures - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures - the bits that are leftover from the fire, the charcoal and ash, aren’t just thrown away. Instead, they can be used for other purposes. One way they are used is to make art. Children will now have the chance to create their own artworks with ash or charcoal.

Part B: Activity

Step 1.

Working with charcoal and ash can be messy. Children will need art smocks and this activity could be completed outside.

Charcoal art - Give children some paper and a piece of charcoal. Let them draw with the charcoal and show them how you can create different textures by smudging, shading or drawing sharp lines. You could add colour and interest to your drawing using chalk or crayons.
Ash art - Take a small amount of ash, add some water and mix thoroughly. You could just experiment with painting with this. Or if you would like to add some colour, try adding watercolours or food colouring to your ash mix.

Step 2.

Take it further and keep experimenting! What happens when you mix in some soil or sand? What happens when you mix in a little bit of acrylic paint into the ash?

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:

Children may want to create a colourful artwork of fire using paint, crayons, pencils or markers. You could also create a fire montage by sticking coloured tissue paper or cellophane to card to give the appearance of fire.
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: Fire Arts And Crafts

Go to

Summary

Activity Guides and Printables

Activity Details

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required

Additional Info

In this activity