Essential Question

How’s carbon dating supporting the long history of First Nations Peoples in Australia?

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

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Unit details

Y9 Science
Lesson Time: 40 minutes
Lessons: 8
Duration: 2 weeks
Australian Curriculum
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority.

Unit overview

In this unit, students will:

  • begin to understand how Western science has sought to corroborate First Nations Peoples’ long-held knowledges of and presence on this continent
  • learn the meaning and impacts of terra nullius
  • identify methods used to determine the age of artefacts
  • identify the relationship between First Nations Peoples’ knowledges and contemporary science and the co-contributions in arriving at shared understandings
  • learn about ancient artefacts which have been uncovered around this continent, such as Budj Bim, Madjedbebe and Mungo Man and Mungo Lady
  • create and deliver an assessable presentation to demonstrate their understanding of dating methods and First Nations protocol.

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