Home/Curriculum resources/Understanding and respecting cultural narratives /Activity 1 – Tiddalik
Learning Area:
The Arts
Year levels:
Level 3, Level 4
Suggested timing:
One to two lessons.
Activity 1 – Tiddalik
This activity is a part of the Understanding and respecting cultural narratives resource.
Misery Island Coastline, Misery Island, palawa country. Tiffany Garvie. Source: Ngarrngga. © Tiffany Garvie 2023. Used under licence
Required resources
Individual devices or projector for the films.
Step by Step guide
Step 1: Introduce the key points of cultural narratives
Handed down over tens of thousands of generations in a way that preserves the knowledge and key messages. Specific to each place or region, language and cultural group.
Morals, group norms and values are an important feature.
Animals and other beings are sometimes used to describe important historical events and natural rock formations, or natural springs can be connected to a story.
Step 2: Facilitate a discussion
Discuss with students about the different modes of how narratives are told/shared. This could be presented as an anchor chart.
Step 3: Watch the film
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/about-us/creation-stories/
Step 4: Have a discussion
These questions are related to the features of the film and the devices used:
Who does this story belong to?
What do you think are some of the themes we can learn from this film? Why do you think this?
How did the filmmakers use sound and colour as techniques to appeal to a younger audience?
How is this film different to a version of the story told orally within a family or community? How has technology changed the way cultural narratives are told?
Why is it important that narratives are shared?
How does the film express Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ connection and responsibility for Country/Place?
Related activities within this resources:
Activity 2 – Water
Teachers guide students to connect local cultural stories with their landscape, fostering a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander narratives.
Suggested timing:
One lesson/45 min.
Activity 3: Megafauna exploration
Within these two activities students will explore megafauna and how these animals relate to Australia's history.
Suggested timing:
2 lessons