Indigenous Astronomy
Astronomi belong ol Native Pipol
STUDENT LEARNING ACTIVITY
PASS GOALS:
Educators and students build leadership skills and use student-centred and project-based learning approaches to improve educational outcomes
Educators in nominated secondary schools deliver an enhanced STEM curriculum
Positive understanding and relationships between PNG and Australia
target Groups:
PNG secondary school teachers
Australian secondary school teachers
PNG secondary school students – Years 9-11
Australian secondary school students – Years 9-11
DESCRIPTION:
This Student Learning Activity is designed to help students develop an understanding of the unique scientific understanding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have of the land by exploring their oral traditions and Dreamtime stories relating to Astronomy and Astrological phenomenon.
As much as possible, students are encouraged to reach out to their local Indigenous communities to form connections with them and learn about their own local traditions and customs and where these might relate to the world around them.
By the end of this session students should be able to:
Define orality, oral traditions and interconnectedness
Discuss the importance of orality and memory in Indigenous cultures
Explain how a vast and complex system of traditional knowledges are able to be stored in memory and stories.
Reflect on the relevance and importance of Indigenous Knowledge in the world
LEAD:
Indigenous Astronomy Student Learning Activity is designed and delivered by Emerging Sciences Victoria, a virtual school run out of John Monash Science School, located on Monash Campus.
Emerging Sciences Victoria (ESV) makes it possible for Year 9 and 10 students in Victoria to access specialised STEM subjects through a virtual classroom.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Indigenous Astronomy is an online activity in PNG and Australia, including:
Self-paced student workbooks, teacher guides (including suggested answers)
Three student online workshops over a two-week period, including:
Workshop 1 – Orality, Memory & Interconnectedness
Workshop 2 – Longevity of Oral Traditions: Variable stars, Eclipses, Supernova, Meteorites and Precession
Workshop 3 – Navigation and Weather prediction
Students have to retell a story in their own way by creating a picture story book, or creating a piece of artwork, performing a dance, etc. This retelling must be able to take some sort of digital form so it can be uploaded onto a website for us to view.
Ongoing check-ins and support
Resources and materials created as part of this collaborative activity
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Group access to computers at school
Internet connectivity with data
Access to Google Platforms, WhatsApp and email
Access to project materials, online or printed
Coloured pens/pencils
EXPECTED LEARNING Areas & OUTCOMES:
LEARNING AREAS
Technology
Science
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Critical thinking
Creativity
Ethical understanding
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
Intercultural understanding
Literacy
CAPABILITIES
PNG CURRICULUM
Science Strand 1:
The Nature of Science - Lower Secondary Syllabus
9.1.1 - Demonstrate an understanding of traditional knowledge and practices.
9.1.5 - Analyse interactions between scientific development and traditional beliefs.
Science Strand 4:
Earth and Space- Lower Secondary Syllabus
9.7.3 – Compare traditional and contemporary scientific methods of predicting and explaining natural phenomena.
AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM
Ethical Understanding:
Exploring values, rights and responsibilities - Level 6
use reasoning skills to prioritise the relative merits of points of view about complex ethical dilemmas.
Intercultural Understanding:
Recognising culture and developing respect – Level 5
explain ways that cultural groups and identities change over time and in different contexts.
analyse the dynamic nature of cultural knowledge, beliefs and practices in a range of personal, social and historical contexts.
understand the importance of maintaining and celebrating cultural traditions for the development of personal, group and national identities.
Recognising culture and developing respect – Level 6
analyse how membership of local, regional, national and international groups shapes identities including their own.
critically analyse the complex and dynamic nature of knowledge, beliefs and practices in a wide range of contexts over time.
Communicate across cultures – Level 5
explore ways that culture shapes the use of language in a wide range of contexts.
Science Understanding:
Earth and space sciences – Level 6
The universe contains features including galaxies, stars and solar systems, and the Big Bang theory can be used to explain the origin of the universe.
Science Inquiry Skills:
Processing and analysing data and information – Level 6
Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies.
Highlights Video
Take a look at the gallery of Indigenous Astronomy submissions here or find instructions on how to take part below.
MATERIALS
Indigenous Astronomy resources will be available soon.
Teaching Guide
Indigenous Astronomy_Teaching Guide.pdfStudent Workbook
Indigenous Astronomy_Student Workbook.pdfVideos and online workshop recordings
Indigenous Astronomy YouTube Playlist, including videos and session recordings.
Supporting resources and materials
Background reading (optional):
The Memory Code: how oral cultures memorise so much information:
https://theconversation.com/the-memory-code-how-oral-cultures-memorise-so-muchinformation-65649Observations of red–giant variable stars by Aboriginal Australians (page 6):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319723744_Observations_of_redgiant_variable_stars_by_Aboriginal_Australians#pf6
Stars that vary in brightness shine in the oral traditions of Aboriginal Australians:
http://www.australasianscience.com.au/article/science-and-technology/stars-varybrightness-shine-oral-traditions-aboriginal-australians.ht