Highlighting First Nations Storytelling in Scientific Conversations

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

• creative thinking
• collaboration
• communication
• cultural understanding
• curiosity
• intercultural understanding

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description: 

Year 7, Science

Students learn to:

• investigate how cultural perspectives and world views influence the development of scientific knowledge (AC9S7H02).

Year 8, Science

Students learn to:

• investigate how cultural perspectives and world views influence the development of scientific knowledge (AC9S8H02).

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students identify the factors that can influence development of and lead to change in scientific knowledge.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how different factors influence development of and lead to changes in scientific knowledge.

NSW Syllabus outcomes: Stage 4

A student:

• explains how observations are used by scientists to increase knowledge and understanding of the Universe (SC4-OTU-01).

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Digital Literacy, Intercultural Understanding, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability 

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

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium - teachers will facilitate class discussion and guide online research.

UN SDG 15: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

• 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.

• device capable of displaying audiovisual material
• markers
• paper
• pens 
• student devices

This lesson was created in collaboration with The Biodiversity Council.

Special thanks to our content partner, The Conversation and to The Garry White Foundation, The Hugh D. T. Williamson Foundation, Wedgetail and The James Kirby Foundation for their generous financial support.

Beginning to Include First Nations Peoples' Perspectives in Your Classroom

Quick summary: This course aims to inform and upskill educators in incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples perspectives.