YEARS K–6 IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM
Incorporating Indigenous Culture into a Science Lesson (continued)
2. Set the date, time and visibility of the Milky Way such that the
Emu in the Sky is visible (see image 1). You will use this for
the first part of the lesson. It might be worthwhile your screen-
printing this image, in case the technology doesn’t work during
the lesson. If you feel confident, being able to demonstrate
the Stellarium in front of the students should have them highly
engaged!
3. This part ONLY works with the downloaded version, not
the app. Go into the “Sky and Viewing Options” link, on the left
hand side. In the “Sky” menu set “Milky Way saturation” to 7.
Then go to the “Starlore” menu, click “show art in brightness”,
and have it set to at least 0.45 (see image 2). You should now
The night sky
see Indigenous artworks. You will use this in the middle part of
the lesson.
4. Trace the shape of Emu in the Sky (see image 3) onto black
mini take-away coffee mugs (from cheap shop, like the Reject
Shop). I used a gold-coloured pen, to make it more easy for
students to see.
5. Suggested reading:
https://kamilaroianationsidentity.weebly.com/the-dreaming.html,
https://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Ray.Norris/papers/n318.pdf
Introduction:
Students complete a Zoom-in, 10 times 2, and See, Think, Wonder
Setting the Date and Time
to make observations of “Emu in the Sky” using Stellarium,
preparation point 2. (These are all strategies for making thinking
visible, developed by Harvard University for Project Zero.) Zoom
In on Emu in the Sky, such that the whole Emu is not visible (this
can be done on Stellarium or by only showing them a small portion
of an image of Emu in the Sky). Students write 10 observations
(what they see). Teacher zooms out and students write another
10 observations. Students then share observations with other
members of their group or partners. Students then write what
they think about what they have seen (inferences). Have some
students share these, as a class. The final step is for students to
write their wonders, their own research questions.
The actual Emu in the Sky
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 4