Teaching Sequence

15 minutes	Watching and Responding to Video
10 minutes	Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags
20 minutes	Looking at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Maps
15 minutes	Reflection

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

Step 1.

As a class, watch the Who We Are: People film (also available on the Student Worksheet). Invite students to reflect on it using the questions on the Student Worksheet (older students can work independently to answer the questions, younger students can work in pairs or groups):

Who We Are: People (https://youtu.be/TxPWd0z3Ng)

Step 2.

Referring to the film, engage students in a class discussion around the following questions. In addition, record keywords and write these words on the board:

When you meet someone (or a group of people) for the first time, how do you introduce yourself?
How do the hosts of the film introduce themselves?
Why do you think the hosts introduce themselves in this way?
If you were to introduce yourself in a similar way, what would you say?
What keywords did you record? These can later be added to your Glossary (see Extension activities). Where possible, include the following words in your list: culture, Country, place, language, connection, belonging, community, family.

Continue your discussion by explaining to students that Kim, Harry, Kaylah, Josh, James and Miranda define who they are by referring to Country and the languages of their parents and grandparents.

Ask students to reflect on the following questions:

What do you know about the place where your parents and grandparents were born and raised?
Are these places important to your family? Why?

For a deeper understanding about the importance of Country and Place to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, watch the Who We Are: Country/Place film with your class and complete the associated unit.

Step 3.

Explain to students that flags can be a symbol of cultural identity.

The Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag represent Australia’s two distinct First Nations groups.

The Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into equal halves of black (top) and red (bottom), with a yellow circle in the centre.
The Torres Strait Islander flag is divided horizontally into three coloured stripes with green at the top and bottom and blue in between. A thin black line divides each stripe. A white dharri or deri (a type of headdress) sits in the centre, with a five-pointed white star underneath it.

Access this website and display each flag to the class.

Break the class into groups of 4-6. Give each group five sticky-notes and three minutes to think up five questions they would like answered about the flags. Groups should write these questions on the sticky-notes. Examples of questions could include:

When were the flags first flown?
Who designed the flags?
What do the colours and symbols mean?

After three minutes, invite groups to stick their questions on the board. As a class decide which questions you would most like to be answered (select as many questions as you have groups). Assign one question to each group, then have groups undertake research online to answer their question.

Each group should then prepare a 1-2 slide presentation in order to share what they found out about their question with the class.

Step 4.

Display AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia to students and explain that it is an attempt to represent all the language, tribal or nation groups of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples of Australia. It indicates the larger language nations across the country, but within each nation, there are usually a number of dialects, clans and individual language groups within those boundaries. For example, the city of Sydney is located on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The Eora Nation is made of 29 clan groups.

Either working as a class or in groups (depending on age and ability) invite each group to access the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia (printed or online) and ask them to locate the nations that Kim, Harry, Kaylah, Josh, James and Miranda refer to when they introduce who they are. Give each group a printed copy of the Map of Australia - Outline and mark these sites on this map.

In addition, compare the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia to Google Maps and have students complete the following:

Find out the name of a large town or city situated within each of these nations
Record an audio or video recording describing one of the following:

a. A visit students have had to one of the sites they have located on the map - when did this happen? Why? How was the experience? Would they go again? What was special about this experience? OR
b.Which site they would like to visit and why

Describe the ways in which the two maps are similar and different

Invite groups to share their answers with the class.

Once complete, engage your students in a discussion around the following questions:

What do you find interesting or surprising about the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia?
What would you like to know more about?

Consider using responses to these questions to guide further study.

Reflection

Invite students to either write a short story or a personal reflection piece about the place where their parents and/or grandparents were born and raised OR about a place that is special to them or their family. This story or reflection piece needs to include information about:

How their family is connected to this place
The location of this place
Any special or interesting features about this place
Whether or not the student has visited this place; and if yes, how was it? and if no, why not?

Extension

Create a Glossary with keywords and definitions that can be added to while completing the other lessons in these Units: Culture and Country/Place.

Take it further

Invite students think of six questions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or cultures that they would like answered. Students should think of one question for each of the following starters: Where...? When...? Who...? What...? Why...? How...? Share questions with the class, vote for the top questions and explore these questions in more depth as part of an inquiry activity.

Brave New Clan - Country/Place - First Peoples of Australia

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Curriculum Mapping

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