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 by inviting children to lie on the ground outside and to look up at the sky. Pose the following questions:

I wonder if we can see some clouds?
I wonder what shapes the clouds make?
I wonder if we can see any animals or people in the clouds?

Give children some time to share their ideas.

Why use ‘I wonder..’ questions? Find out here.

Step 2.

Now invite children to close their eyes and imagine they are looking at the stars:

I wonder what you see?
I wonder if you can see any shapes in the stars?
I wonder if you can see any people or animals in the stars?
How do they look different to the ones you saw in the clouds?

Explain to children that, unlike the clouds which are always shifting, moving and changing shape, the stars don’t really change (although depending on the time of the year we might see different stars and the moon follows a monthly cycle).

Many traditional cultures - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures - use the stars and the moon for light at night, and over many thousands of years have observed patterns and pictures in the stars and have passed this knowledge down through the generations. The pictures and patterns that they see tell them about the world around them, including how the world was created, when the seasons are changing, what the weather will be doing, when it is time to collect emu eggs and when to harvest materials for making baskets and mats.

The pictures that are seen in the stars are called constellations. The constellations often relate to the people and animals that are important to the culture. These articles (here and here) have some images of constellations you could share with children.

Explain to children that they will be creating their own constellations for an animal or person who is important to them.

Part B: Activity

Step 1.

There are two ways you could complete this activity:

Invite children to create a painting or drawing of someone or something that is important to them. When they are finished, they could add a series of star stickers to the drawing to represent the stars in the sky and to show the constellation.
Invite children to place some stars onto their paper. They can use their stars to guide their drawing of someone or something that is important to them.

Encourage children to be creative with decorating their pictures. You could use glitter (try to avoid the glitter if you can or use nature’s glitter or bio-glitter) or other natural materials to decorate your artworks.

You could also ask your children to create a story based on their constellation: who is in this constellation? Why are they important to you? What are they doing?

Finally, give your constellation a name and add a label to your artwork.

Step 2.

Create a cardboard moon, some planets and some bigger stars and display your constellations for families and other visitors to your centre to see them.

Part C: Possible Lines of Development

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

Create more space-themed artworks by using natural objects (such as leaves or seedpods) as paint stamps. Choose brightly coloured paints against black cardboard to create your artwork
Create some space-themed black playdough (try to avoid the glitter if you can or use nature’s glitter or bio-glitter) and invite children to create a space scene
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: Space Arts and Crafts

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Summary

Activity Guides and Printables

Activity Details

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required

Additional Info

In this activity