Recently, early childhood consultant Jessica Staines from Koori Curriculum visited the National Museum of Australia in Canberra with her three-year-old daughter, Shirley Pearl. The pair spent the day exploring the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre, an indoor play space designed for children aged 0–6 years and their carers.
A Play Space Designed for Learning and Inclusion
The Discovery Centre offers a dynamic and immersive experience, featuring:
• Climbing and sliding areas
• Interactive activities like building fish traps and sorting shells
• Quiet spaces with reading nooks and an infant crawl space
• Inclusive design, including a wheelchair-accessible rocking deck
Jessica and Shirley were joined by Rhi Sugars from Atypical Educator and her daughter, Evanna. Rhi’s son was part of the play space consultative group, advocating for the inclusion of a Wiradjuri story, which was successfully incorporated into the space.
Engaging with Culture Through Play
The girls had a fantastic time:
- Dressing up as Bunyips, an experience inspired by Adam Duncan’s book Bunyip and the Stars
- Exploring fish traps and ghost nets, learning about traditional and contemporary cultural practices
- Interacting with projections that brought stories and history to life
Jessica described the Discovery Centre as a highly interactive and culturally rich play space, offering children opportunities to engage with First Nations perspectives in a hands-on, meaningful way.
How Can Educators Create Interactive, Engaging, and Play-Based Cultural Learning?
Jessica’s visit highlights the importance of culturally responsive play environments that encourage children to explore Indigenous knowledge, stories, and perspectives. Here are some ideas for embedding interactive cultural learning in your early childhood setting:
Sensory and Nature-Based Play
- Create a bush tucker garden where children can grow, touch, and taste native plants.
- Use natural materials like seeds, shells, and ochre in sensory play experiences.
Storytelling Through Dramatic Play - Set up a dress-up area with costumes inspired by First Nations stories and characters.
- Recreate traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tales through puppetry or small-world play.
Interactive Art and Craft Experiences:
- Explore rock painting or use natural pigments to create artwork.
- Provide materials for weaving and introduce traditional weaving techniques in age-appropriate ways.
Music and Movement:
- Incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songs, rhythms, and dance into your program.
- Use clapsticks or other traditional instruments in group music activities.
STEM and Inquiry-Based Learning:
- Build and test mini fish traps using natural materials.
- Explore seasonal changes by observing how local plants and animals respond to the environment.
By creating play-based experiences that reflect First Nations cultures and knowledge, educators can ensure that children engage meaningfully, respectfully, and joyfully with Indigenous perspectives in their everyday learning.
This wonderful space at the National Museum of Australia is one that Jessica, Shirley, and their friends hope to revisit soon—and a great inspiration for educators looking to create their own interactive cultural learning environments.
