In 2021 we invite schools to be inspired by and engage with this year’s theme: Under One Sky: Yesterday, Today and Forever
For more than 60,000 years First Nations People have looked up at the sky, to understand the world around them. Using their observations of the stars, planets, Moon, Sun and the atmosphere to predict weather changes & tides, to navigate on land & water and to plan food gathering, hunting, trading, ceremony as well as pass down stories through the generations.
Looking up and reading the skies was, and still is, an important way to understand, interact with and develop connection to Country and know our place in the universe. The skies are also a source of magic, mystery and meaning told through dreaming stories of the creation of the sun and moon. Sharing stories under the stars is also a way of passing on Aboriginal lore to children, about family, traditions, culture and history.
Although ancient ancestors did not have telescopes, they had bright skies, an inquisitive spirit and possessed a deep understanding of the cyclic motions of nature and the objects in the sky. Their knowledge, as we are now coming to understand through their careful recording in rock engravings, rock paintings and the alignment of lithic markers, was critical to survival and played a prominent role in culture.
We want to celebrate the knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their relationships with the sky. To do this we invite you to explore our skies and discover this ancient knowledge and share your interpretations and ideas using art and writing.
By exploring the theme Under One Sky: Yesterday, Today and Forever, students will:
These lesson plans, activities and additional resources allow schools to learn from First Nations people knowledge of the sky and offer schools opportunities to participate in the wonder and discovery in their local community.
In 2021, we encourage all schools participating in the Schools Reconciliation Challenge to engage with the lesson plans, activities and additional resources we have gathered for this year’s challenge to inspire your students to draw, paint and write about their new knowledge and understanding of living together Under One Sky: Yesterday, Today and Forever.
Activity: Getting started with the theme: Under One Sky: Yesterday, Today and Forever