Curriculum resources

This unit explores the important information First Nations Peoples collect and communicate from observing the natural environment. Students will identify and make connections to what we observe, why we observe, how we observe and ways to communicate observations.

Students explore First Nations bush foods, making connections to the seasons, environment and food availability. They investigate agriculture methods used by First Nations people to sustainably grow and harvest bush foods. Lastly, they design a bush food dish and share their dishes and knowledge.

Students explore length using both variable and uniform informal units of measurement and investigate ways First Nations people use measurement in everyday life. Students create a weaving artwork using informal measurement to share their learning with others.

Students explore how cultural stories of First Nations Peoples of Australia describe the patterns in the changing positions of the sun, moon and stars. Students recognise that astronomers use patterns of movement of celestial objects in the sky.

This scientific investigation into living things explores reciprocity between Country and First Nations Peoples. Students learn about local plants and animals through observation, data collection and research; and unpack sophisticated belief, kinship and knowledge systems some First Nations people use to understand and care for Country.

Students explore shapes through home design, and use drawing and modelling to create designs. They learn about First Nations architecture to understand the connection between design function and form, and consider the importance of designing homes to meet the needs of the household and environment.

Students learn how First Nations Peoples understand and use the life cycle of living things sustainably. They develop an understanding and appreciation for the diversity of life through personal observation, investigation and creative writing.

Students explore First Nations Peoples’ unique relationship with and responsibility to care for Country. They learn about ways of caring for Country and how knowledge has been passed down, and practices adapted to each geographic location and available resources. Students reflect on their role in protecting biodiversity in local areas and beyond.

Students examine the ecological importance of the Daintree Rainforest and learn about the Daintree’s Traditional Custodians – Eastern Kuku Yalanji People. Students also learn how, as a decomposer and keystone species, the southern cassowary regenerates the Daintree Rainforest by distributing seeds.

Students learn about water and the ways it enriches life. They explore how water’s perceived, valued and how it connects places in the environment. In looking at how First Nations Peoples understand and care for water, students develop their appreciation for water and water places, to learn to care for and sustain these places.

Students explore the impacts of feral animals on Country and culture, and the role First Nations rangers play in protecting Australia’s unique flora and fauna. Students use online research, flowcharts and algorithms, culminating with the creation of an ebook.

Students learn how we can use scientific knowledge of erosion and weathering to better protect and preserve sites of cultural significance of First Nations Peoples. Students experiment on different materials to see erosion and weathering in action.

Students inquire into the impact of colonisation on people and places throughout the late 1700s and 1800s. They look at the causes and effects of change on different groups of people, particularly First Nations Peoples, and the environment. Students explore varying perspectives on key aspects of colonisation.

Students explore how First Nations Peoples use knowledges of the structural features and behaviours of some animals and plants. They learn about Australia’s unique plant and animal diversity, and how First Nations Peoples to use and manage this through ancestral knowledge systems and practices.

Students learn about First Nation Peoples knowledges of the sky and the ways observing the night sky can inform ways of timekeeping. They view stories, pictures, dance and petroglyphs to develop their understanding of sky Country and better understand its significance to First nations people.

This unit explores the relationship between habitats and survival of living things and how the knowledges of First Nations Peoples about Country allowed different species to thrive for millennia. Students investigate changing physical conditions by creating their own experiment.

In this unit, students work with algebraic formulas, identifying patterns and interactions between real-life variables. They begin to understand First Nations Peoples’ knowledges and observations of the environment, in this instance moon phases and tides in First Nations fishing practices.

Students explore their local environment by surveying biodiversity and creating food webs. They investigate the differences between various types of fire, including cultural burning, and how such fires affect biodiversity in their local region.

Students learn about First Nations aquaculture practices and write inquiry questions to guide their research into significant sites. Through a Brewarrina Fish Traps case study, students draw conclusions about the site’s importance and show their findings in a multimodal presentation.

Students explore the importance of water for First Nations Peoples in Australia and the material, cultural and spiritual meanings associated with bodies of water. The impact of colonisation, First Nations water management and struggles for water rights are explored through three case studies.

Students learn how sources are located and identified. They examine primary and secondary sources to draw conclusions about how evidence is used to learn about the lives of First Nations Peoples. By investigating the findings at Lake Mungo, students study the importance of conserving historical sites.

Students compare and contrast First Nations Peoples’ different approaches to classifying organisms and the Western scientific approach known as the Linnaean system. They explore how different classification systems might inform our knowledge of the ecological interactions between organisms, including food chains and food webs.

Students consider the connection First Nations people have with Country in built and natural environments. They explore the complexity of that connection through naming of Country, and study the role First Nations consultation plays in managing and caring for Country in urban settings. 

Students will explore significant landscapes in Australia and connections to First Nations Dreaming. They’ll consider perspectives about Country and land use and create visitor guides to demonstrate understanding of landscapes and landforms and their significance to First Nations Peoples.

Students explore their own culture and identity to prepare for learning about First Nations connection to Country and conventions for acknowledging Country. They role-play in the target language, translate short texts, and communicate their learning to a target culture audience through video posts.

Students explore challenges in native food production and food access within Australia’s biomes. They consider issues within these biomes, as well as management solutions and programs. Students evaluate existing programs for their effectiveness in managing food production and access in Australia.

Students explore their own culture and identity to prepare for learning about First Nations connection to Country and conventions for acknowledging Country. They role-play in the target language, translate short texts, and communicate their learning to a target culture audience through video posts.

The past tells how our ancestors migrated across the world and came to settle in Sahul. A story of resilience is uncovered through studying the biological evolution of First Nations Peoples. Genetic isolation and extreme climate changes have given rise to societies rich in archaeological histories.

Students explore community-led programs that improve wellbeing for First Nations people. They examine case studies to build their understanding of challenges and responses to human wellbeing in different settings and complete a summative report or proposal for a First Nations-led wellbeing project.