Does the River Know its Name?

Learning Areas

English | HASS | Visual Arts

In this unit

Students explore First Nations languages, land, and culture through the Wurundjeri Multi-Touch Book Birrarung. They research language loss, create presentations on preservation efforts, and reflect on the connection between language, culture, and heritage.

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Cultural Protocols

Unit

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

AC9HS5K04
The influence of people, including First Nations Australians and people in other countries, on the characteristics of a place
AC9HS5S01
Develop questions to investigate people, events, developments, places and systems
AC9HS5S05
Develop evidence-based conclusions
AC9HS5S06
Propose actions or responses to issues or challenges and use criteria to assess the possible effects
AC9HS5S07
Present descriptions and explanations, drawing ideas, findings and viewpoints from sources, and using relevant terms and conventions
AC9LH6U04
Recognise that language reflects cultural practices, values and identity, and that this impacts on non-verbal, spoken and written communication

Visual Arts

AC9AVA6E01
Explore ways that visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials are combined to communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning in visual arts across cultures, times, places and/or other contexts
AC9AVA6E02
Explore ways that First Nations Australians use visual arts to continue and revitalise cultures
AC9AVA6C01
Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to plan and create artworks that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning

English

AC9E5LE01
Identify aspects of literary texts that represent details or information about historical, social and cultural contexts in literature by First Nations Australian, and wide-ranging Australian and world authors
AC9E5LE02
Present an opinion on a literary text using specific terms about literary devices, text structures and language features, and reflect on the viewpoints of others
AC9E5LE03
Recognise that the point of view in a literary text influences how readers interpret and respond to events and characters

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

A_TSICP1
The occupation and colonisation of Australia by the British, under the now overturned doctrine of terra nullius, were experienced by First Nations Australians as an invasion that denied their occupation of, and connection to, Country/Place.
A_TSICP1
First Nations communities of Australia maintain a deep connection to, and responsibility for, Country/Place and have holistic values and belief systems that are connected to the land, sea, sky and waterways.
A_TSICP3
The First Peoples of Australia are the Traditional Owners of Country/Place, protected in Australian Law by the Native Title Act 1993 which recognises pre-existing sovereignty, continuing systems of law and customs, and connection to Country/Place. This recognised legal right provides for economic sustainability and a voice into the development and management of Country/Place.

Culture

A_TSIC1
First Nations Australian societies are diverse and have distinct cultural expressions such as language, customs and beliefs. As First Nations Peoples of Australia, they have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural expressions, while also maintaining the right to control, protect and develop culture as First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property.
A_TSIC2
First Nations Australians’ ways of life reflect unique ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.
A_TSIC3
The First Peoples of Australia (Aboriginal Peoples) belong to the world’s oldest continuous cultures. First Nations Australians demonstrate resilience in the maintenance, practice and revitalisation of culture despite the many historic and enduring impacts of colonisation, and continue to celebrate and share the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures.

People

A_TSIP2
First Nations Australians have sophisticated political, economic and social organisation systems, which include family and kinship structures, laws, traditions, customs, land tenure systems, and protocols for strong governance and authority.
A_TSIP3
The significant and ongoing contributions of First Nations Australians and their histories and cultures are acknowledged locally, nationally and globally.

Wurundjeri Interactive Map

Year levels: 5-6 4 lessons

Students will engage with the Birrarung Multi-touch Book and specifically the Wurundjeri Interactive Map to explore significant places on Wurundjeri Country from pre-contact to today, researching native plants, traditional engineering, and cultural heritage. They will reflect on these insights and create poems, paintings, or stories showcasing their understanding of First Nations perspectives and connections to the land. This unit can be self-directed or taught as a class.

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Our Ancestors

Year levels: 3-4 4 lessons

Students engage with the multi-touch book Birrarung and explore First Nations portraits to learn about Wurundjeri Ancestors and their role in shaping identity. They create a personal ancestry map or visual representation, reflecting on how their own Ancestors, wherever they are from, influence who they are today.

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Dear Birrarung

Year levels: 5-6 4 lessons

In this unit, students explore First Nations Creation stories, immersing themselves in the narratives that describe the origins of the land. They understand the profound influence of storytellers and the interconnectedness of storytelling, language, culture, and Country. Through the Birrarung multi-touch book, story mapping activities, and investigating the Yarra River Protection Act 2017, students develop an understanding of the significance of the Birrarung story in preserving cultural heritage and fostering a connection to Country.

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Unit Content

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Does the River Know it’s Name? 3 Lessons

Focus Area Content

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Does the River Know it’s Name? – Lesson 1

Does the River Know it’s Name? – Lesson 2

Does the River Know it’s Name? – Lesson 3

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Wurundjeri Community

Years 5-6

English

HASS

Visual Arts

3 x 60 minutes

$105/year

Unit Includes

1 Focus Area
3 Lessons

Does the River Know its Name?

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Cultural Protocols

Unit

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

Visual Arts

English

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Unit Content

Wurundjeri Community

Years 5-6

English

HASS

Visual Arts

3 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

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Does the River Know its Name?

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Cultural Protocols

Unit

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

Visual Arts

English

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Related Units

Unit Content

Wurundjeri Community

Years 5-6

English

HASS

Visual Arts

3 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

Login or Subscribe

Contact us