Students from Cycle 3 (9-12 years old) at Noosa Montessori have been undertaking a unit of work on Social Justice.
After exploring a range of works including Bruce Pascoe’s Young Dark Emu, the students are forming their own opinions on whether Australia was Terra Nullius when the British arrived, and whether the British did the right thing by establishing a colony at Port Jackson in 1788.
The group invited Brian Warner, Kabi Kabi Traditional Owner and Noosa Environmental Education Hub Educator, to listen and comment on their essays.
A respectful discussion on the impacts of colonisation followed with students discovering much about Australian life from the perspective of a local Aboriginal person.
Students read their essays and provided constructive feedback to one another.
Brian was asked a range of questions and provided rich perspectives as a Traditional Owner from the Lake Cootharaba region.
“We are honoured that Brian would come and listen to our students’ essays on this important and authentic topic,” teacher Mark Powell said.
“We look forward to learning more about our local Aboriginal culture in coming terms.”
The Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa EEHub) will be delivering Our Place – Cultural Perspectives through Term 3 at Montessori Noosa.
As part of the discussion students were invited to shape the program to be delivered.
“We are delighted by the work the students have produced through their own research and thinking,” Noosa EEHub co-director Dalia Mikhail said.
“Allowing self-directed education is empowering for students as they take ownership of their learning. We look forward to an exciting term of exploration.”
The Noosa EEHub offers a range of rich curriculum extension opportunities.
A unique focus is on Aboriginal perspectives of the local Kabi Kabi Traditional Owners in protection and restoration of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
The Noosa EEHub received seed funding from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation to provide schools with opportunity to connect with and learn more about our Biosphere Reserve.
Students learn how Aboriginal people acted as custodians of the natural environment around them.
The Hub also offers video conferencing sessions. Interested schools should contact hello@noosaeehub.com.au for more information.
