Year 1 explores People, Place and Country

By Melinda Hamilton, Year 1 teacher

Year 1 enjoyed an incursion with the National Museum of Australia. Their visit linked with our inquiry into Where We Are in Place and Time and allowed students to explore how Indigenous Australians show custodianship over the land.

Students really enjoyed getting to touch and play with special artefacts. They wondered what the item was? What it was made from? How was it used? And how had it been made?

We learnt about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and what the colours and objects symbolise. We also listened to a dreaming story, told by the Wiradjuri people about how the kangaroo got its pouch. The students helped act out the story and each time we see kangaroos on Gossan Hill, we will remember this experience.

Reflections

Aboriginal people have possum skins for special occasions. They are very warm. The skins come from New Zealand as possums are protected here. – Roman

I liked the boomerang. Did you know when you throw it, it can come back? – Flynn

The Ngunnawal people are custodians of the land because they care for it to pass onto other generations. – Aidan

The Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 21,000 years. They are the oldest group of people. – Lachlan

I liked the shopping bag. It was made with string and grass and had been woven. – Miriam

Did you know that the Ngunnawal people can make fire with two sticks? You twist one stick and it makes fire. – Hannah