Our Ancestors

Learning Areas

English | HASS | Media Arts | Visual Arts

In this unit

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.

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Unit

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

AC9HS3K01
Causes and effects of changes to the local community, and how people who may be from diverse backgrounds have contributed to these changes
AC9HS3K02
Significant events, symbols and emblems that are important to Australia’s identity and diversity, and how they are celebrated, commemorated or recognised in Australia, including Australia Day, Anzac Day, NAIDOC Week, National Sorry Day, Easter, Christmas, and other religious and cultural festivals
AC9HS3K03
The representation of contemporary Australia as states and territories, and as the Countries/Places of First Nations Australians prior to colonisation, and the locations of Australia’s neighbouring regions and countries
AC9HS3K04
The ways First Nations Australians in different parts of Australia are interconnected with Country/Place
AC9HS3K07
Why people participate within communities and how students can actively participate and contribute to communities
AC9HS3S01
Develop questions to guide investigations about people, events, places and issues
AC9HS3S02
Locate, collect and record information and data from a range of sources, including annotated timelines and maps

English

AC9E3LA09
Identify how images extend the meaning of a text
AC9E3LY02
Use interaction skills to contribute to conversations and discussions to share information and ideas
AC9E3LY06
Plan, create, edit and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive written and multimodal texts, using visual features, appropriate form and layout, with ideas grouped in simple paragraphs, mostly correct tense, topic-specific vocabulary and correct spelling of most high-frequency and phonetically regular words
AC9E3LY07
Plan, create, rehearse and deliver short oral and/or multimodal presentations to inform, express opinions or tell stories, using a clear structure, details to elaborate ideas, topic-specific and precise vocabulary, visual features, and appropriate tone, pace, pitch and volume
AC9E3LY12
Recognise and know how to write most high frequency words including some homophones

Media Arts

AC9AMA4C01
Use media languages, media technologies and production processes to construct representations that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning
AC9AMA4D01
Develop media production skills by exploring ways of shaping ideas using media technologies, images, sounds, text and/or interactive elements
AC9AMA4P01
Share media arts works in informal settings considering responsible media practice
AC9AMA4D01
Develop media production skills by exploring ways of shaping ideas using media technologies, images, sounds, text and/or interactive element
AC9AMA4C01
Use media languages, media technologies and production processes to construct representations that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning
AC9AMA4P01
Share media arts works in informal settings considering responsible media practice

Visual Arts

AC9AVA4E02
Explore how First Nations Australians use visual arts to communicate their connection to and responsibility for Country/Place
AC9AVA4C01
Use visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials to create artworks that communicate ideas, perspectives and/or meaning
AC9AVA4E01
Explore where, why and how visual arts are created and/or presented across cultures, times, places and/or other contexts
AC9AVA4E02
Explore how First Nations Australians use visual arts to communicate their connection to and responsibility for Country/Place
AC9AVA4P01
Share and/or display artworks and/or visual arts practice in informal settings

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

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 Indigenous 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_TSIP3
The significant and ongoing contributions of First Nations Australians and their histories and cultures are acknowledged locally, nationally and globally.
A_TSIP1
Australia has 2 distinct First Nations Peoples; each encompasses a diversity of nations across Australia. Aboriginal Peoples are the first peoples of Australia and have occupied the Australian continent for more than 60,000 years. Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the First Nations Peoples of the Torres Strait and have occupied the region for over 4,000 years.

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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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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Does the River Know its Name?

Year levels: 5-6 3 lessons

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.

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Unit Content

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Our Ancestors 4 Lessons

Focus Area Content

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Our Ancestors – Lesson 1

Our Ancestors – Lesson 2

Our Ancestors – Lesson 3

Our Ancestors – Lesson 4

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Wurundjeri Community

Years 3-4

English

HASS

Media Arts

Visual Arts

4 x 60 minutes

$105/year

Unit Includes

1 Focus Area
4 Lessons

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Unit

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

English

Media Arts

Visual Arts

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Unit Content

Wurundjeri Community

Years 3-4

English

HASS

Media Arts

Visual Arts

4 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

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Our Ancestors

Learning Areas

In this unit

This unit includes:

Multi-touch Books

Unit

Cultural Protocols

Teacher Resource

Teacher Resource

Learning Areas

Humanities and the Social Sciences

English

Media Arts

Visual Arts

Cross Curriculum Priorities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

Culture

People

Related Units

Unit Content

Wurundjeri Community

Years 3-4

English

HASS

Media Arts

Visual Arts

4 x 60 minutes

Unit Includes

Explore

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