Essential Question

How can the cultural accounts of First Nations Peoples aid our understanding of geological events in Australia?

Warning — First Nations teachers and students are advised that this curriculum resource may contain images, voices or names of deceased people.

Unit details

Y9–Y10 Drama
Lesson Time: 40 minutes
Lessons: 22
Duration: 7 weeks
Australian Curriculum
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority.

Unit overview

In this unit, students gain a practical understanding of:

  • how four events in Australia’s shared history affected First Nations people
  • how perspective and a variety of lenses are critical when exploring the impacts of decisions made in relation to this nation’s history
  • why it’s crucial to challenge and explore subject matter that may make us uncomfortable in order to acquire deeper levels of understanding and knowledge
  • how the techniques of Mary Overlie’s ‘Viewpoints’ may be used to explore distinct events in Australian history and their consequences and impacts on First Nations people
  • how to convey narratives in non-linear ways whereby imagery, sounds, music, and symbols are used to reveal important issues and themes.

Students create short pieces of theatre that explore significant historical events and their impacts on First Nations people. They’ll respond to song lyrics, forms of documentary evidence, script excerpts and images to create playbuilt pieces of theatre. The activities throughout the unit are framed by the philosophy and techniques of choreographer and theatre artist Mary Overlie, with a focus on non-linear storytelling.

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