First Nations Science

Acknowledging the oldest teachers on Earth

This unit is designed to bring a contemporary understanding of First Nations Peoples and their scientific knowledge into lessons for teachers of Year 10 Science. We hope these lessons will allow teachers to confidently tackle curriculum areas addressing First Nations understandings and perspectives as they appear in V9 of the ACARA curriculum.

The First Nations Peoples of Australia are the longest-surviving continuous culture on the planet, having been present in Australia (as it is now known) for at least 60,000 years. First Nations peoples are the oldest and most successful teachers on Earth through the cultures, traditions and knowledge passed from generation to generation.  

For many non-Indigenous teachers, it can be daunting to teach any content relating to the long and deep history of First Nations peoples through our limited knowledge and understanding of the many and varied practices of the hundreds of peoples from across the continent and through not wanting to make statements that are at best incorrect and at worst disrespectful or hurtful.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that these lessons may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.