The Archaeological Record

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

• critical thinking
• collaboration
• communication
• cultural understanding
• curiosity
• ethical understanding
• intercultural understanding

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

Year 7, History

Students learn

• how First Nations Australians are the world’s oldest continuing cultures, displaying evidence of both continuity and change over deep time (AC9HH7K03)
• the cultural obligations of First Nations Australians about significant heritage sites, including ancestral remains, material culture and artefacts, and the role of collaboration between First Nations Australians and other individuals and groups to ensure cultural preservation (AC9HH7K07)

Relevant parts of Year 7 History achievement standards: Students describe the historical significance of the ancient past and the histories of early First Nations Peoples of Australia. Students explain the importance of heritage sites connected to Australia and other societies from the ancient past.

NSW Syllabus outcomes:

A student

• describes the nature of history and archaeology and explains their contribution to an understanding of the past (HT4-1)
• describes major periods of historical time and sequences of events, people and societies from the past (HT4-2)

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding & Intercultural Understanding

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

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussions

UN SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

• Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

• Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
• Factsheet: Scientific evidence of First Peoples in Australia
• Factsheet: Cultural heritage in Australia
• Factsheet: Significant sites of Mulgumpin
• Visual explainer: Introduction to archaeological methods
• Whiteboard

The Everick Foundation is a Melbourne/Naarm based (DGR1) Foundation helping Traditional Custodians throughout Australia to achieve cultural and economic opportunities. Everick Foundation works within four priority areas including self-determination, research, education and storytelling. They invest in projects that link tangible and intangible First Nations cultural heritage and environmental values with business development and ownership outcomes.

Beginning to Include First Nations People’s Perspectives in Your Classroom

Quick Summary: This course aims to inform and upskill educators in incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their classrooms.