Cultural background

In Australia, one of the aims of civics and citizenship education is to develop understanding and appreciation of Indigenous histories and cultures. This infographic looks at students’ attitudes towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions and peoples.

What opportunities do school students have to learn about other cultures, perspectives, and global events? Students participating in PISA 2018 were asked 10 questions about the different learning activities they are exposed to. Today’s infographic looks at the OECD average results.

At Tulliallan Primary School in Melbourne, teachers and students have been working with local Indigenous groups to create an immersive Acknowledgement of Country. STEM teacher Nick Pattison shares the story from different perspectives.

Always was, Always will be is the designated theme for NAIDOC Week 2020, which is being celebrated this week across the country. Here, we take you through some of the resources developed for classroom educators to assist with lesson planning.

The yourstoryourjourney website has been created to help teachers and school leaders form relationships and partnerships with communities and parents to achieve better educational outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

‘I can see using this book as a springboard to have further discussion with students about the ways that sports and other aspects of culture have brought people together over time.’ Assistant Professor of Reading Education Jason DeHart shares how teachers can use the graphic novel Dragon Hoops in their classroom.

In this article, Professor Chris Matthews from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance (ATSIMA) shares how mathematics is taught to students at Yirrkala School with a balance of western and Indigenous knowledge.

In his first Teacher article on mathematics from an Indigenous perspective, Professor Chris Matthews introduced the concept of two-ways learning. In this follow-up, he discusses Yolŋu mathematics and the interconnected relationships of Gurruṯu, and shares an activity for teachers and students to explore the connections and patterns in family trees.

Maclean High School has a strong commitment to reconciliation and a proud history of developing deep, ongoing relationships with local Elders and community members. This was recognised in late-2019 when they were named winners of the Narragunnawali Awards from Reconciliation Australia in the schools category.

Helping Indigenous children get the best start to their formal schooling by modelling the day-to-day running of an early primary classroom is one of the aims of the animated children’s series, Little J & Big Cuz, which is back for its second season.