Lesson summary
Students learn about First Nations Australians’ knowledge of celestial bodies and how this knowledge was used by comparing interpretations of the night sky and researching observations made by a First Nations group.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand that many cultures have observed, interpreted and utilised information from the night sky
- understand that all Australian Indigenous Nations developed knowledge of celestial bodies
- understand that interpretations of knowledge vary between Indigenous groups across Australia
- understand the methods used to collect astronomical data and the modes of dissemination of astronomical data by Indigenous Australians.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- reflect upon a range of cultural interpretations of celestial phenomena
- identify an Indigenous sky figure from an Indigenous nation
- articulate the diversity of knowledge generated from astronomical observation by Indigenous Australians
- research an Indigenous Australian nation’s interpretation of natural phenomena based upon astronomical observation.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content descriptions:
Year 10 Science:
Students learn to:
- Describe how the big bang theory models the origin and evolution of the universe and analyse the supporting evidence for the theory (AC9S10U03)
General capabilities:Â Intercultural understanding
Syllabus outcomes:Â SC4-12ES
Cross-curriculum priority:Â Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.Â
Relevant parts of Year 10 Science achievement standards: They (students) sequence key events in the origin and evolution of the universe and describe the supporting evidence for the big bang theory.
Resources required
- First Nations Astronomy slide deck – images to accompany this lesson
- Indigenous Astronomy Starwheel – Sky Map, story text, recording of story
- Photo of Southern January Sky (also available in slide deck)
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- problem-solving
- curiosity
- research
- cultural understanding
- intercultural understanding
- creativity
- communication
- reflection
Additional info
Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that these lessons may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High - articulate the concept of scientific curiosity from an intercultural perspective, facilitate idea generation strategies.
This is an original Cool+ lesson.
