Indigenous Knowledge Institute Astronomy Resources

The Indigenous Knowledge Institute of the University of Melbourne provides a range of curriculum based activities for students in Primary School and High School learning environments. The below activities have been chosen specifically as guides for the 2021 theme, Under One Sky: Yesterday, Today and Forever.

Primary School Education Activities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed techniques to navigate using the stars in a variety of ways, using mathematical principles.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Stellar navigation and mathematics activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people pay close attention to the positions of the stars to determine seasonal change. This informs them about the behaviours of plants and animals that are used for food and medicine.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Seasonal foods and Aboriginal astronomy activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Aboriginal narratives are shared through symbols and with materials made from and of Country, and provide a connection to Country and a portal to a metaphysical or spiritual dimension.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Sharing astronomical narratives from Country activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people maintain detailed knowledge systems about objects in the Solar System, including the Sun, Moon, planets, comets, and meteors.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Indigenous astronomy and the Solar System activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

In the Visual Arts Indigenous narratives are shared through symbols and with materials made from and of Country.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Astronomical knowledge in art activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Star maps are song series encoded to memory using the stars. In these maps, stars correlate with landscape features and places to find food and water, while their orientations represent the directions of the pathways for traveling.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Indigenous astronomy, geography and star maps activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed extensive knowledge about the world around them through observation, experimentation, experience, and deduction.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Stellar scintillation activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander laws, often conveyed in lore, contain strict rules about social behaviours, warning and punishing those who act in a disrespectful and harassing manner. This sort of negative behaviour is taboo, and helps the community maintain a healthy relationship and a communal sense of wellbeing.
Visit this University of Melbourne website for detailed instruction on the Aboriginal astronomy and appropriate relationships activity HERE

*Source: Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian Schools Curricula Project, developed by University of Melbourne.