educational and cultural awareness experiences
Tasmanian Aboriginal Histories and Cultures Educational Experiences
These experiences have been developed for over decade of catering to K – 12 students from all educational styles. Ideally, they are done ‘on-country’ with the primary location being the Cataract Gorge in Launceston. They can also be done at places such as the Punchbowl and Trevallyn Reserves.
The main component of any site is a cultural walk/talk where I identify resources Aboriginal people would have utilised for food and making implements such as spears, digging sticks and clap sticks. Along the way the participants get to touch, taste and smell various plants/bush tucker (Wallaby), and I have a selection of artefacts such as replica stone tools, shell jewellery, 'space rock' and other fascinating items that students can handle. The experiences also have cross-curricular links to history, geology, geography, art, literacy, numeracy, place and space, and science.
Other activities that I provide include:
· Art using natural ochres/pigments to paint on paperbark and watercolour paper
· Small hut making activity that is ideal for fine motor skills development and problem solving
· Fire making challenge (using the friction method) that is great fun for all ages
· Art/craft activity of making Memory Wreaths from Snotty Vine that is also wonderful for fine motor skill development
· Treasure Hunt that interacts with the interpretation panels dotted around the First Basin area. This is fantastic activity that not only gives the students the opportunity to explore that local area and it is fun to do with a goody bag of treasure to be had as a reward, and it also covers curriculum areas that include literacy, numeracy, geography, geology and place and space
For students Grade 5/6 and above I can also provide an information/fact finding activity where the students interact with a series of information panels about the Cataract Gorge that cover deep time origins of the Gorge, Aboriginal history, and more contemporary historical uses and events of the area.
For my fee, it is $250 for a half-day experience and $400 for the full day experiences, and it is all inclusive as I provide all the resources.
Local History Educational Experiences
As a professional educator and local historian I can provide some amazing history educational experiences for your students. I am able to tailor a history walk through Ye Olde Launceston that will highlight not only the colonial and post-colonial history of Launceston but also some of the significant buildings and people. There is also the scope to do some tours inside buildings such as the Princess Theatre and Town Hall. I also provide some comprehensive booklets/worksheets for the students to engage with, and they also can be the catalyst for further learning in the classroom.
Tracing the Colonisation of the Tamar Valley
This experience has been developed to cater to Grade 5/6/7/8 students and is designed to be a two-day experience (and it can be tailored to be a single day but it is not as extensive) that begins at York Cove (Outer Cove) at George Town and follows the colonisation of the Tamar Valley that began with Bass and Flinders’ expedition of 1798. Naturally, there is a visit to the Bass and Flinders Museum where the students will not only find out more information about them, but also get to go aboard the replica sloop, Norfolk. There is also scope to visit the Pilot Station Museum and Lighthouse. I also provide in-depth history content (with worksheets/booklets) about John Batman, York Town (where students take part in a ‘Create Your Own Settlement’ activity), Supply River Flour Mill, the ‘gentleman bushranger’ Mathew Brady, geology/geography of the Tamar Valley and concludes with a history walk through Launceston.
Fees for this will vary depending on whether it is a one or two day excursion and how many students (maximum of 60).
School Incursions
If you are unable to do an excursion then I can come to your and provide a number of presentations that cover:
· Tasmanian Aboriginal histories and cultures
· Significant people
· Art
· Significance of fire
· Deep time occupation of the Tamar/Kanamaluka Valley
I also provide activities that include:
· Art using ochres on different mediums
· Fire making challenge
· Small hut making
· Craft activity making Memory Wreaths from Snotty Vine
Professional Learning and Cultural Awareness Sessions
The PL/CA sessions I provide are among the most unique and comprehensive in Australia. They cover an introduction to the 8-Ways Aboriginal Pedagogies (developed by Dr Tyson Yunkaporta), how to set up learning spaces with First Nations content, in-depth review of resources for both teachers and students, information about terminology, what to do and what not to do and you also get to take home a resource package that is over 100 pages of invaluable content. Get in touch with Geoff to find out what he can provide for you.
Cultural Awareness Sessions for Businesses/Organisations
These sessions are quite similar to the Professional Learning experiences I provide to teachers but without the depth of content about teaching practices and resources. There is also a comprehensive take home package for you that is over 60 pages of interesting and informative information about Tasmanian Aboriginal people and their histories and cultures. Get in touch with Geoff to find out what he can provide for you.