How First Nations peoples manage & care for country

This is a series of free lessons designed to educate students about the importance of Traditional Knowledge of Caring for Country. These Cool Burning resources are presented through the perspectives of Traditional Owners across Northern Australia. Each lesson contains rich video content of John Daly, an Indigenous ranger from Fish River (NT), telling his personal story.

About the resources

These resources cover both the cross-curricula priorities of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’ and ‘Sustainability’, while explicitly linking to specific learning areas of the Australian Curriculum.

All Cool Burning lessons have been reviewed and updated in 2023, with relevant information and resources, ensuring quality Indigenous Education in your classroom

“What is wonderful about this curriculum is that it teaches the importance of Indigenous knowledge in land management which has existed throughout history and which continues today. This teaching tool will build students’ understanding of the cultural, spiritual, economical and environmental benefits that this knowledge brings to both the people and the landscape in which we all live.”  

           – Michael Looker, The Nature Conservancy

Primary and Secondary

  • Unit
  • Cool+
  • ...

What's So Cool About Cool Burning?

  • Foundation
  • Year 1 - 6
  • English
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Geography
  • History
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
  • Social
  • Indigenous Education
  • Unit
  • Cool+
  • ...

Cool Burning - Traditional Land Management

  • Year 7 - 10
  • English
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Geography
  • History
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
  • Social
  • Indigenous Education

Professional learning

  • Professional learning
  • Cool+
  • ...

Teach Caring for Country Using Fire

  • Primary
  • Year 3 - 5
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Geography
  • History
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
  • Environmental
  • Land Management
  • Sustainability
  • Social
  • Indigenous Education
  • Professional learning
  • Cool+
  • ...

Teach Indigenous Land Management Using Fire

  • Secondary
  • Year 8 - 10
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Geography
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
  • Environmental
  • Land Management
  • Sustainability
  • Social
  • Indigenous Education

With thanks to our partners

Special Thanks to:

Fish River Station, John Daly, Dr Jeremy Russell-Smith, Peter Jacklyn, Peter McConchie, Dr Tommy George, David Claudie, Dale Musgrave, Carolyn George and Victor Steffensen.