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Creativity and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of Australia
Introduction
This paper is a cross-curricular term length unit of work - for a Stage 3, Grade 6 Primary
class - which emphasises multicultural perspectives. It will centre around discovery learning
(constructivist methods) and project-based learning and teaching strategies. It will be written to
meet syllabus requirements and reflect outcomes in the following Key Learning Areas (KLAs):
English, Geography, Creative Arts and Personal Health, Development and Physical Education
(PDHPE). Pulling content and outcomes from each of these KLAs, the unit of work will
rationale for the unit will be written to encapsulate contributions from the various syllabi in a well-
rounded education approach, and will advocate for a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
theme throughout learning. The paper will draw from academic sources, as well as NESA
curriculum. It will include assessment and lesson examples in order to present a scaffolding for
the teaching of ‘Creativity and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People of Australia.’
**Author’s Note**
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander(s) (people of Australia) will be referred to as ATSI
Curriculum Links
Creative Arts, Geography, PDHPE, English
Year Level
Stage 3 – Grade 6 NSW
Unit Foundation
Standards/Syllabus Outcomes
Creative Arts
Music:
Unit Programming Page 3
- MUS3.1 Sings, plays and moves to a range of music, individually and in groups,
demonstrating a knowledge of musical concepts
- MUS3.3 Notates and discusses own work and the work of others
- MUS3.4 Identifies the use of musical concepts and symbols in a range of musical styles
(identifies and discusses sound sources, tone colours and rhythmic patterns in both
traditional and contemporary Aboriginal music and Torres Strait Islander music)
Dance:
- DAS3.1 Performs and interprets dances from particular contexts, using a wide range of
movement skills and appropriate expressive qualities (uses a range of dances as a starting
point for devising dance performances eg (. - sic.) the use of characteristics and conventions
of cultural, historic or contemporary dances for devising a personal response
- DAS3.2 Explores, selects, organises and refines movement using the elements of dance to
communicate intent (improvises alone and with others to use the elements of dance related
to movement ideas, eg (. - sic.) selection from a range of ideas in the creation of a group
dance).
- DAS3.3 Discusses and interprets the relationship between content, meaning and context in
their own and other’s dances (writes a description of a dance seen live or on video with
personal responses to the work and mention of the visual and aural elements that support its
meaning)
PDHPE
- COS3.1 Communicates confidently in a variety of situations (uses negotiation skills in group
activities…; communicates an idea or story through movement)
- MOS3.4 Refines and applies movement skills creatively to a variety of challenging situations
(combines known movements to create a dance with partner or small group)
- DAS3.7 Performs a range of dance styles and sequences confidently (performs steps and
patterns from known dances with increasing skill; uses some elements of dance to create
movement sequences; interprets the messages communicated in dance performances)
- Stage 3 Subject Matter, Dance Styles: folk, social, indigenous (Aboriginal), modern,
contemporary popular dance
Geography
- GE3.2 explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments
- GE3.4 acquires, processes and communicates geographical information using geographical
tools for inquiry
English
- EN3.1A communicates effectively for a variety of audiences and purposes using increasingly
challenging topics, ideas, issues and language forms and features
- EN3.3A uses an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and
comprehend a wide range of texts in different media and technologies
- EN3.4A draws on appropriate strategies to accurately spell familiar and unfamiliar words
Unit Programming Page 4
Curriculum-Framing Questions
Essential Question What can we learn from ATSI creativity in life
How can I find resources on ATSI creative arts?
How can I respectfully and appropriately mirror ATSI creative arts?
Unit Questions
What are the differences in ATSI language?
- How can I understand Aboriginal language?
Ethical
Consideration
Ethical considerations have been made to teach this integrated, cross-
curricular unit of work. It is important to highlight the importance of
teaching ATSI related-content as it is often overlooked in many areas of
education. Reconciliation Australia published an article in 2014 reiterating
this essential element in Australian education. It reads, “The cross-
curriculum priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories
provides the Australian public with what they want… the majority of
Australians believe it’s important to learn about Indigenous history and
cultures.” (para. 4). Indeed, the ATSI people of Australia have a rich
history, full of valuable facts, ancient artefacts, stories, theories and belief
systems. ATSI content has much to offer Australian curriculum in terms of
sponsoring education that is well-rounded, informed and relevant to
student experience.
Rationale
Unit Programming Page 5
The rationale for this unit of work comes directly from the Board of Studies Syllabi for the
integrated KLAs. As this unit of work has a major focus on the ATSI people of Australia, learning
sessions throughout the unit will foster a deep appreciation for the First People of Australia and
their ways of life in relation to students’ own learning. As the base proponent from which all other
learning is connected to in this unit, the Creative Arts promote creative-freedom in students,
cultivating a safe, enjoyable and exciting learning environment.
In this way, The Board of Studies (BoS) syllabus for Creative Arts (2006) reads, “Visual arts,
music, drama and dance offer students and people of all ages opportunities for personal
expression…” (p. 6) - (and many other benefits). Additionally, the syllabus supports the use of the
artforms in getting students “… to explore social and cultural values about spiritual and worldly
beliefs in Australia and in other regions and cultures, and to celebrate, share and negotiate these
values and beliefs.” (p. 6). Accordingly, students are encouraged to maintain the utmost respect
for alternative cultures’ norms and practices, and to entertain concepts of lifelong learning and
critical thinking in order to continuously build an informed and grounded worldview.
Complimenting the above, the PDHPE syllabus (2007) - specifically outcomes for Stage 3
Dance - correlates with learning in the Creative Arts, whilst also heightening its focus on the
students’ “understanding and valuing of self and others… They are also more tolerant and caring
members of the community who value difference and respond to others as individuals.” (p. 6).
Alongside the practical and physical components that PDHPE brings to learning, it promotes self
value and acknowledgement of diversity, and it sponsors a heightened awareness of others -
especially those who are not the same (whether EALD, additional needs, or otherwise) in the
community.
The final two components of this integrated, cross-curricular unit of work are English and
Geography. In relation to the ATSI aspects of the unit, Geography, being “the study of places and
the relationships between people and their environments.” (Geography K-10 Syllabus, 2015, p. 9),
is included to shed light into the cultural diversity of the numerous Aboriginal tribes and groups of
Australia. It utilises resources such as the ‘Aboriginal Map of Australia’ (see
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/pdf/aboriginal-australia-map.pdf), and the ‘AUSTLANG’
interactive map of Australia with information on Aboriginal languages from the different regions of
Australia (see https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/search) to broaden students’ understanding
of the Aboriginal people and the land of Australia. On the other hand, the English Syllabus (2012)
draws on conventions of English language in informing all other learning. Additionally, it promotes
student engagement with “texts that include widely acknowledged quality literature of past and
contemporary societies and engage with the literature and literary heritage of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples.” (p. 9). Therefore, English, although a separate language, is an
integral tool to utilise in researching and understanding information - including that of ATSI people.
Unit Content
Unit Programming Page 6
Learning and This unit of work utilises project-based and constructivist learning and
Teaching teaching strategies to sponsor an environment of discovery (David L., 2016, para.
Strategies 1), where “students are encouraged to work with tangible objects in the real world
and use what they already know to gain more knowledge.” (L., 2016, para. 1). In
accordance with this idea of connecting new information with previously
established knowledge/learning, Ausubel’s (1968) ‘Meaningful Learning Theory’ is
promoted in order to ‘synthesise’ learning (Sidhu, 2006) by placing “together
things that are apart. It starts with something that is already known and connects
it with the unknown part…” (p. 82). This approach compliments and assists with
the cross-curricular learning process greatly.
English as an EALD teacher involved within the class – providing extra assistance for
Additional these students
Language or Dialect Visual aids utilised to accustom the EALD student to learning and using
(EALD) Students English terms
Students are involved in open-ended activities, debating, developing
collective understandings, reflection, further discovery learning to deepen
Gifted Students
understanding and knowledge of application of concepts to real world
experience, etc.
Emphasis on letting these students teach the class from their own culture
Indigenous Groups and experience
*Tasks can be negotiated according to individual needs.
Materials and Resources Required for Unit
Conclusion
This integrated cross-curricular unit of work has discussed Creativity and the ATSI people
of Australia. Delving into information about the importance of cross-curricular education, the
essay argued that this is a more effective and beneficial approach to learning in primary
schooling. A rationale was written to show how learning sessions, activities and assessments
map to NESA outcomes within the English, Geography, PDHPE and Creative Arts Syllabi.
learning overall, instead of only basing grades on a singular assessment task at the end of a
term.
Unit Programming Page 9
Reference List
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/pdf/aboriginal-australia-map.pdf
https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/search
Ausubel, D.P. (1968). Educational Psychology: A cognitive view. New York: Holt,
Ltd.
Board of Studies. (2006). Creative Arts K-6 Syllabus. NSW: Board of Studies.
Board of Studies. (2012). English Arts K-6 Syllabus. NSW: Board of Studies.
Board of Studies. (2007). Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. NSW:
Board of Studies.
Johnson, Ben. John Lucas Educational Foundation. (2014). Deeper Learning: Why
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/cross-curricular-teaching-deeper-learning-ben-
johnson
NESA. Geography Syllabus Content, Stage 3. Factors that Shape Places. Retrieved from
https://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/hsie/geography-k10/content/1183/
Unit Programming Page 10
L, David. (Collating Seymore Papert research studies). (2016). "Educational Robotics and
https://www.learning-theories.com/educational-robotics-and-constructionism.html
Reconciliation Australia. (2014). The national curriculum - knowing the truth about
curriculum-knowing-the-truth-about-australias-history/
cross-curricular-approach
Sidhu, Kulbir Singh. (2006). The Teaching of Mathematics. New Delhi: Sterling
Gillian Maugle and Amenah Mourad participated in the Intel® Teach Program which resulted in
this idea for a classroom project. A team of teachers expanded the plan into the example you
see here.
CRE ATIVE ARTS/PDHPE TERM 3 WEEK 1 – CRE ATIVITY AND THE ATSI PEOPLE
Lesson TOPIC Stage/Year
ATSI music and dance Stage 3, Year 6
Materials Language
• Smartboard/projector screen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI)
• Videos Creative Arts
• Lyrics Language (Meriam Mir and Yorta Yorta) - maps to Geography
Unit Programming Page 13
Lesson Evaluation
Unit Programming Page 15
Materials Language
• Smartboard/projector screen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI)
• The ‘Aboriginal Map of Australia’ - Language/Dialect
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/pdf/aboriginal-australia- Region
map.pdf Cultural differences
• ‘AUSTLANG’ interactive map of Australia (on Aboriginal
languages) https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/search
• Student devices (at least one per/pair)
• Class sharing platform (Seesaw, Google Classroom or similar)
• Whiteboard
Unit Programming Page 17
Lesson Evaluation
Unit Programming Page 21
Appendix C: example Assessment English
Stage 3, Grade 6
Assignment Brief:
Using the resources - videos, websites, articles, etc. - that we have worked with in
(English, Creative Arts, PDHPE and Geography) class this term, find an Aboriginal or Torres
Strait Islander song and its translation. Write down the original ATSI lyrics, in your neatest
handwriting, on an A4 sheet of paper. Draw relevant images, showing your understanding of the
Method:
2) Find the lyrics and the English translation for those lyrics (https://lyricstranslate.com/ is a
3) Write down the original lyrics (neatly!) on an A4 sheet of paper (you can use more than
4) Draw pictures. Colourful and creative images symbolise descriptions of what the words
6) Take a picture of the finished work, and upload it to your private folder on the class
sharing space.
increasingly challenging topics, ideas, issues and language forms and features
- EN3.3A uses an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and
- EN3.4A draws on appropriate strategies to accurately spell familiar and unfamiliar words
- EN3.7C thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information and
ideas and identifies connections between texts when responding to and composing texts
- EN3.8D identifies and considers how different viewpoints of their world, including aspects
Assignment Brief:
Using the class sharing platform, locate Miss Miller’s recording example of ‘Ngarra Burra
Ferra’ (The Sapphires version). Find lyrics to the song if you do not know all the lyrics. With the
pair or group that Miss Miller has placed you in according to your voice, use GarageBand (or
similar) on each of your devices to record yourselves singing your parts (upper melody, lower
melody, upper harmony or lower harmony). You may choose to do this all at one time, or
singularly and match each other’s recording. Secondly, record a video of your group singing
Ngarra Burra Ferra together and upload it to your folder on the class sharing platform.
Method:
1) Gather with your set pair or trio/group, confirm the parts you are doing (there may be
2) Locate Miss Miller’s recording of ‘Ngarra Burra Ferra’ on the class sharing platform (Run
3) Find the lyrics if you need them (https://lyricstranslate.com/ is a great website for this).
5) Using the Garage Band recording software program on your device (provided by the
school. Everyone has this program), each person needs to record each of your group
7) Each person needs to upload (to your personal folder on the class sharing platform):
- MUS3.4 Identifies the use of musical concepts and symbols in a range of musical styles
(identifies and discusses sound sources, tone colours and rhythmic patterns in both
traditional and contemporary Aboriginal music and Torres Strait Islander music)
increasingly challenging topics, ideas, issues and language forms and features
- EN3.3A uses an integrated range of skills, strategies and knowledge to read, view and