For me this years NAIDOC theme embodies so much. Whilst it provides a prompt for educators to discuss the importance of caring for Country through custodianship one can also investigate race relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and how we can all move forward as a united Nation.
Here are our top resources that we recommend educators utilise to help scaffold children’s understanding of ‘Heal Country’.
Benny Bungarra comes to the rescue when Olive Python's head is stuck in a plastic bottle, Colin Crow's beak is entangled in a fishing line, and Kathy Kangaroo's paw has glass in it!
Benny Bungarra's Big Bush Clean-Up is an environmental tale for Early Childhood and Lower Primary readers showing how animals are affected by rubbish left in their habitat by humans. Ambelin Kwaymullina's illustrations are an explosion of colour and cleverly show the perils faced by our native animals.
When the animals work as a team to come up with ways to look after the bush, they decide to ask the humans to REDUCE, RECYCLE and use RUBBISH BINS. But it is Benny Bungarra who has the bright idea of a BIG BUSH CLEAN-UP so the animals can also help look after the bush.
The Little Corroborree Frog is a wonderful children’s story that gently introduces the serious plight of one of Australia’s most endangered species. Jet the corroboree frog is happily taking care of the tadpole ponds when the water starts to dry up and his family’s eggs are threatened. He goes to visit Grandmother Frog to find out why and she tells him all about the summers that are getting hotter every year and the careless humans who are leaving their rubbish around.
When a boy and his father arrive to go fishing in the nearby river, Jet seizes the opportunity to show them how humans are threatening the very existence of his species.
’When we all came together at Uluru, we invited all Australian people to accept our voice and culture as a gift.’
Can you help us find the heart of the nation?
A book about understanding Australia’s past, so we can have a shared future.
A beautifully visual set of 30 Topic Cards about Aboriginal Australia. These cards are designed to be used as a starting point for learning more about the beautiful history and continuing culture of Australia’s Aboriginal people. Take these cards and use them as ideas for Aboriginal topics to share in the classroom. For any age group.
Cards are double-sided; one side with a beautiful visual image to accompany the topic, and the other side a snapshot of information to get you started in your learning on that particular topic.
Cards cover content such as: Kinship; Totems; Caring for Country; Uluru; Aboriginal Shields; Rainbow Serpent; Aboriginal Dance, and so much more.
Another important part of NAIDOC Week is celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This is a great resources to use with children to learn about Indigenous role models.
Adapted from Briggs’ celebrated song 'The Children Came Back',Our Home, Our Heartbeat is a celebration of past and present Indigenous legends, as well as emerging generations, and at its heart honours the oldest continuous culture on earth.
Readers will recognise Briggs' distinctive voice and contagious energy within the pages ofOur Home, Our Heartbeat, signifying a new and exciting chapter in children's Indigenous publishing.
