Getting to Know the Australian Aborigines

An Integrated Thematic Unit

By: Nicole Kanemaki, Karin Schankat, and Megan Schroeder

Unit SummaryThis ITU on “Getting To Know The Aborigines” provides students an opportunity to explore the

history, culture, life, religion, music, and art of the Aborigines people. It covers content on various topics in four subject areas. Florida State Standards for 6th graders and a variety of assessment tools were used in developing this ITU.

The Social Studies section of this unit covers information about the history, life, and culture of the Aborigines people. Lessons include creating a timeline of historical events and a lesson on the “Stolen Generation”.

The Language Arts section of this unit includes having the students research and compile information about the Aborigines in a variety of formats: informational presentation, and interview, compare/contrast essay. The students will work individually and collaboratively in small groups.

Major ConceptsThe Australian Aborigines

Reading/Language Arts

• Conduct internet research of Aborigines people

• Interview a hypothetical Aboriginal student

• Create a Facebook page

• Participate in Jeopardy vocabulary review

• Write an essay comparing and contrasting US and Aborigines students

• Create a map of Australia

• Discuss and learn about the Aboriginal culture

• Compare and contrast societal expectations

• Use timelines to understand history

• Recognize the significance of longitude and latitude

Art

• Create Aboriginal didgeridoos

• Create Aboriginal handprints

• Create Aboriginal rock paperweights

• Participate in virtual field trip to view Aboriginal artifacts

• Translate two verses from an Aboriginal song and discuss how it relates to their culture

• Create an Aboriginal Instrument and learn how to play.

• Present a poster board presentation on the 3 types of Aborigine Music.

• Participate in a listening review identifying which instrument is being played.

Learning Goals

Language Arts• To identify accurate resources, research and compile the

information, and cite references.

• To work collaboratively with classmates to write and

present an informational presentation.

• To practice identifying and compiling important details, and integrating those details in a variety of writing formats; informational, interview, and compare /contrast.

Learning Goals

Social Studies• To determine important events in Aborigines History, coordinate

their dates, and create an accurate timeline.

• To teach students about a period in Aborigines history known as the “Stolen Generation”.

Learning GoalsArt

Learning Goals

Music

Student Learning OutcomesLanguage Arts• Provided a list of topics, and access to multi-media resources, such

as internet and other written and media resources, the students will work collaboratively in small groups to compile and present information to the class on their topic with 80% accuracy.

• Given an example of an interview format and how to structure questions and responses, the student will be able to write an interview in the correct format, by developing open-ended questions, creating and compiling responses including details from the reading with 80% accuracy.

• Provided a summary of daily life and interests of Aborigines people, the students will be able to write a compare/contrast essay with 80% accuracy.

Student Learning OutcomesSocial Studies• Provided a sample timeline and a summary of historical events in

Aborigines history, the students will create a timeline of historical events in Aborigines history with 80% accuracy.

• Provided access to multi-media resources, such as written, internet and audio resources, the students will extract essential information about the “Stolen Generation”, and explain how this period in Aborigines history has impacted its people.

Student Learning Outcomes

Art

Student Learning Outcomes

Music

Sunshine State StandardsArt

VA.68.C.1.1.: Apply a range of interests and contextual connections to influence the art-making and self-reflecting processes.VA.68.C.2.4.: Use constructive criticism as a purposeful tool for artistic growth.VA.68.F.1.4.: Use technology skills to create an imaginative and unique work of art.VA.68.H.3.3.: Create imaginative works to include background knowledge or information from other subjects.

Sunshine State StandardsSocial Studies

SS.6.G.1.7: Use maps to identify characteristics and boundaries of ancient civilizations that have shaped the world today.

SS.6.G.1.1: Use latitude and longitude coordinates to understand the relationship between people and places on the Earth.

SS.6.W.1.1: Use timelines to identify chronological order of historical events.

Sunshine State Standards

Music

MU.68.H.1.1: Describe the functions of music from various cultures and time periods.

MU.68.S.1.2: Using traditional instruments and/or voice, compose a short musical piece

MU.68.H.2.1: Describe the influence of historical events and periods on music composition and performance.

Grade Level Expectations

Weekly Schedule

Media List

• Computer with high speed internet

• Overhead projector

• CD player

Lesson Plans

Culminating Activities

Assessments

• Rubric• Student Evaluation Forms• Worksheets• Poster Presentation Projects• Translated song creation

References