Year 4 Excursion to the Australian Museum

Last week, as part of our integrated History and Geography unit, Year 4 visited the Australian Museum with their class. The girls participated in the Features of Country workshop with Museum educator, Hayley, a young Aboriginal woman from Halls Creek in the East Kimberly region of Western Australia. Hayley shared her knowledge of weaving practices and how weaving is used in First Nations culture.

We learnt that Lomandra, Club Rush, and Stringy Bark are plants which are used for weaving in NSW. While in other parts of Australia, Pandanus leaves, Palm leaves and Spinifex grass, are used. Once these grasses are dried, they are coloured using different types of berries. We learnt how these grasses are used to make baskets, bags, mats and fish or eel traps using different weaving techniques. The girls were pleased to learn that using these natural materials for fishing is an environmentally sustainable practice.

At the end of the workshop, the Year 4 girls tested their weaving skills. They all showed great persistence and flexibility while they weaved, quietly chanting to themselves “over, under, over, around”.

This excursion helped our girls to understand how Indigenous Australians have and continue to use natural vegetation and natural resources, and how they care for the land in a sustainable way. Year 4 will continue to investigate what life was like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the past and to understand their culture, tools, customs, art and connection to country.

The students had a fantastic time, showed great curiosity, and represented the School with pride.

We look forward to the next excursion!

Rachael Dossetor and Nada Siljanovska
Year 4 Classroom Teachers