Teaching and Learning Units

Through the project, units of work were developed for each Stage of the K-10 spectrum. Each unit is introduced below and is available in PDF. To view the units, you will need the Adobe Reader. It is likely that you have it already, but it you don’t, it is free to download.

Click on the title of each unit of work to view the unit.

Stage 1 (K-2)

This is me – Body Parts and Family Members (Thunghutti / Dunghutti) (PDF - 913kb)
Green Hill Public School is located approximately 5 kilometres west of Kempsey, New South Wales. The school was established in 1890. It has a current enrolment of 26 students, from Kindergarten to Year 2. All of the current students are of Aboriginal background, with the majority being from the local Thunghutti/Dunghutti people. The school has a strong Aboriginal focus in its teaching and works to foster close links with the community. The school started language lessons in 1992, with Thunghutti/Dunghutti and Gumbayngirri. In recent years the school has enjoyed the services of ‘Aunty’ Esther Quinlin, an Elder from Bellbrook, who has provided expertise in the Thunghutti/Dunghutti language and culture.

Local legend of “How the Clarence River was made” (Bundjalung) (PDF - 833kb)
Lismore Public School developed this unit of work. It is based on a local legend that links Bundjalung people to their cultural identity. The school’s Aboriginal language program is for Aboriginal students. The Bundjalung teacher/speaker is an Elder of the community and also a trained primary teacher.

The River (Gamilaraay) (PDF - 1.6mb)
Toomelah Public School is a small community school in the north west part of NSW. It is 17km from the town of Boggabilla. The school has a student population of approximately 60 students, all of whom are Aboriginal. There are three classes K-6. The Toomelah community of about 500 people lives on an old mission station. The school is located in the middle of the community. All students participate in the Gamilaraay language program.

The Toomelah Public School team developed a unit called ‘The River’. The river surrounds the community and is a focus for the whole community. Many leisure and cultural hours are spent down at the river. The river was the reason Toomelah was established in the first place, access to water being a priority in 1938.

Stage 2 (Yrs 3-4)

Cubawee Aboriginal Reserve (Bundjalung) (PDF - 1.5mb)
Albert Park Public School in Lismore developed this unit of work. It is based on the Cubawee Aboriginal Reserve that has historical significance for the Bundjalung people in the area and helps the students gain a better understanding of their Bundjalung culture. The school has an Aboriginal language program for Aboriginal students. The Bundjalung teacher/speaker is an Elder of the community and also is a trained primary teacher.

Bundjalung National Park (Bundjalung) (PDF - 3.6mb)
Goonellabah Public School is a K-6 Primary School in Lismore in Northern NSW. There are 280 students, including 87 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The school has a Bundjalung language program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The Bundjalung teacher/speaker delivers the program to stage-based groups. This unit encourages students to make an association between Bundjalung language, identity and the land.

Big Book (PDF - 3.9mb)
This page contains a PDF version of a big book created by Goonellabah Public School after an excursion that is part the implementation of their unit of work Bundjalung National Park.

The big book is published here with the approval of the school, parents and school community.

Stage 3 (Yrs 5-6)

Our Land Our People (Bundjalung) (PDF - 922kb)
This unit was developed by Bonalbo Central School where the teaching of the Bundjalung language to all students is regarded as vital. The school believes that appreciation and understanding of the Bundjalung people and language by all enhances acceptance of diversity and strengthens respect for others. The program is expected to give Bundjalung students at the school a strengthened sense of identity with their culture and language and to develop pride and ownership.

Stage 4

Feeling Good, Feeling Better about being a Gumbayngirr person (Gumbayngirr) (PDF - 846kb)
Nambucca Heads High School developed this unit of work. The unit is about teaching Gumbayngirr students to have pride in their cultural heritage and to appreciate the culture of Gumbayngirr.

Dhiiyaan Ngay - My Family (Gamilaraay) (PDF - 1.3mb)
Coonabarabran High School developed this unit of work. It is based on the language of the Gamilaraay people. It looks at kinship and the importance of the family unit to Aboriginal people.

The River (Gamilaraay) (PDF - 1.7mb)
This unit of work was developed by Boggabilla Central School. It is an extension to Toomelah Public School’s stage 1 unit “The River”.