Connecting to Country

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• creative thinking
• communication
• community engagement
• empathy
• intercultural understanding

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

F-2, Geography

Students learn:

• the importance of Country/Place to First Nations Australians and the Country/Place on which the school is located (AC9HSFK04)
• how places change and how they can be cared for by different groups including First Nations Australians (AC9HS1K04)
• about the interconnections of First Nations Australians to a local Country/Place (AC9HS2K04).

Relevant parts of Foundation Year achievement standards: Students recognise the features of familiar places, why some places are special to people and the ways they can care for them.

Relevant parts of Year 1 achievement standards: Students identify the location and nature of the natural, managed and constructed features of local places, and how they can be cared for by people.

Relevant parts of Year 2 achievement standards: Students identify how people and places are interconnected both at local and broader scales.

General capabilities: Intercultural Understanding

Cross-curriculum priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Sustainability

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - lead students in guided sensory observation task, lead students in class discussion and oversee students creating a visual or written description of their special place.

UN SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

• An outdoor space where students can comfortably sit down
• Device capable of sharing a YouTube video with students
• List of adjectives classroom poster
• List of feeling words classroom poster 
• Writing and/or drawing materials.

This is an original Cool+ lesson.

Beginning to Include First Nations Peoples' Perspectives in Your Classroom (45 Minutes)

Quick summary: This course aims to inform and upskill educators in incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perspectives. The course emphasises the importance of connecting with personal motivations, overcoming biases, and incorporating diverse perspectives while being inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples languages and cultures. Additionally, it provides guidance on terms of reference, protocols, and strategies for inclusivity, fostering an inclusive and accepting educational environment and curriculum design.