Activity

Arnhem InsightKey Learning

Students will develop a deeper understanding of life in Arnhem Land and explore dreaming stories from the area.

The Australian Curriculum

Health and Physical Education/Personal, Social and Community Health/Contributing to healthy and active communities

Research own heritage and cultural identities, and explore strategies to respect and value diversity Years 3 & 4

Civics and Citizenship/Knowledge and Understanding/Citizenship, diversity and identity

How groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, express their particular identities, how this influences their perceptions of others, and others’ perception of them Year 7

Discussion Questions1. Where is Arnhem Land?2. Which famous National Park is in Arnhem Land?3. How many people live in Arnhem Land?4. How long is the Prime Minister staying there?5. Explain why the Prime Minister is staying in Arnhem Land.6. Which indigenous instrument came from Arnhem Land?7. Jake’s class is called Nguykal, Nguykal. What does it mean?8. Why did the kids give up swimming?9. What’s the Yolngu word for canoe?10. Who are the ‘elder mob men’ that Billy’s talking about?

Activities

Discuss the Arnhem Insight story with students. What did the story teach them about life in Arnhem Land?

What are some traditional Yolngu words the kids in the story talked about?

Arnhem Land

Students find out more about Arnhem Land using the following questions to guide their research.

Where is Arnhem Land? Locate it using Google Maps. Describe the location of Arnhem Land in relation to Darwin.

©ABC 2014

Episode 2716th September 2014

What is the area (sq km) of Arnhem Land? What is the climate and geography of Arnhem Land? Find images of some geographical features. How did the region get its name? What are some interesting facts about Arnhem Land?

Glossary

Students will explore dreaming stories from Arnhem Land. Before they do this, ask them to compile a glossary of words from Arnhem Land. They can add to the list below.

Billabong

Corroboree

Moeity

Skin Name

Yirritja

Dhuwa

Didgeridoo

Students choose at least three words from the glossary and illustrate them.

Dreaming Stories from Arnhem Land

Dust Echoes is series of animated dreaming stories from Central Arnhem Land. Students choose a dreaming story from the collection to explore in more detail http://www.abc.net.au/dustechoes/dustEchoesFlash.htm

Dreaming storiesWhirlpoolMermaid storyBrolgaMorning StarNamorrodorThe CurseMoon ManThe BeSpearWagalak SistersBat & ButterflyMimis

©ABC 2014

Evaluate

Students will reflect on their learning I learned that... I enjoyed/did not enjoy... I want to know more about... I was surprised to discover that...

8 Related Research Links

ABC News – PM visiting Arnhem Landhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-13/abbott-to-camp-in-arnhem-land/5741340

ABC News – Abbott's Top End trip: Prime Minister Tony Abbott to focus on jobs in Arnhem Landhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-15/prime-minister-to-focus-on-jobs-in-arnhem-land/5743334

ABC - Dust Echoeshttp://www.abc.net.au/dustechoes/dustEchoesFlash.htm

East Arnhem Regional Council - Yirrkalahttp://www.eastarnhem.nt.gov.au/yirrkala/

©ABC 2014

Exploring a Dreaming StoryWhat do Aboriginal Dreaming stories tell us?What is the story about?What are the main themes in the story?What does the story help you understand about Aboriginal people’s lives?How did the story make you feel?

Further activitiesStudents can check their understanding of the story by completing the quiz. Go to the `Take the quiz’ section on the story that they chose.

Students can create their own version of the story. Go to the `Mash it up’ section.