EEO311: LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE Name: Kim Robertson

Title of lesson/activity: Interpreting symbols used for Aboriginal communication and in art
forms.
Tutor/seminar: Terri Redpath Student Year level: 2

Duration of the lesson: 50-60 mins Class size: planning for 25 (mixed ability)

Intended Learning Outcomes/Learning intentions: WALT

Students will understand the background of aboriginal symbols and art
Students will understand the symbols used to tell stories and communicate in aboriginal art

Success Criteria: WILF

-Students can interpret aboriginal symbols used in their art forms
Students will communicate their own message using aboriginal symbols

Prior Learning and Experiences:

This lesson would be part of an inquiry unit on Indigenous culture and art/symbols make up a large portion
of this subject. The importance of art and symbols in the Indigenous communities was the elders’ way of
storytelling, communicating, giving directions along with expressing their history through their art forms.
Therefore, students will need to be front loaded with background information on the symbols and their
relevance in Indigenous history.

Links to the Victorian curriculum codes and descriptors:

English: Understand that people use different systems of communication to cater to different needs and purposes
and that many people may use sign systems to communicate with others (VCELA198)
Respond to texts drawn from a range of cultures and experiences (VCELY185)

Geography: Identify how people are connected to different places (VCGGC059)

Personal and Social Capability: Listen to others’ ideas, and recognise that others may see things differently
(VCPSCSO012)

Visual Arts: Explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination and express them through subject matter in
visual artworks (VCAVAE021)
Respond to visual artworks, including artworks by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, by describing
subject matter and ideas (VCAVAR024)
Materials and Organisation:
Pictures of the Indigenous Symbols, Artwork to interpret Symbols, Sticks, Sand, picture story books
illustrated by Grace Fielding Bilby and the Bushfire (2007) and The Lizard Gang (2006).

What Resource will help you with the learning outcomes? (image/URL/overview?)

Artwork by: Damian & Yilpi Marks.

https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/wp-content/uploads/Damien_Yilpi_Marks_Aboriginal_Symbols.001.jpg

https://www.aboriginal-art-australia.com/aboriginal-art-library/symbolism-in- australian-indigenous-art/

Sommerville, K 2006, The Lizard Gang, Magabala Books, Broome.

Crawford, J 2007, Bilby and the Bushfire, Magabala Books, Broome.

These books are illustrated by an Indigenous lady by the name of Grace Fielding, who was raised at the
Wandering Mission near Perth. She is a very well known for her combination of traditional dot painting
and her iconography style. She has illustrated many childrens books for which she has won awards.
Teaching Strategies and lesson structure:
What you as teacher will do?
Beginning
I will introduce and frontload information about the
Indigenous form of Iconography or otherwise
known as symbols.
I will show and explain the different symbols used
by Indigenous people to communicate dreamtime
stories, specific group histories and directions along
with symbols used within their art forms over many
centuries and their significance to their history.
Middle
I will gather the students in a circle outside and
each student will have a pile of flattened sand in
front of them, they will use symbols in the sand and
scribe their message with a stick for another person
in the group.
I will help students interpret their messages along
with the help of other students.
What are the students doing?
Timing:
Students will look at this art form whilst 15
explaining the meaning within the minutes
picture.
The students will write a message with
a stick in the sand using the Indigenous 25
symbols. minutes
The students will then move to the left
of the circle one space and interpret
their message.
Students will share their messages
amongst the group and be corrected by
the illustrator of that message.
Conclusion
I will share two Indigenous picture story books The
Lizard Gang and Bilby and the Bushfire with the
students and look closely at the messages of the
story along with the illustrators use of symbols in
her work.
Students will take in turns of reading 20
parts of the two Indigenous picture minutes
story books, keeping a close eye on the
illustrators use of symbols in her work.

Furthering this lesson I would like the students to

write their own short story using the Indigenous
symbols and then painting these symbols and
creating an artform that supports their stories.

Reflection and Self Evaluation:

Tutor formative feedback (For the mini lesson)