Day Sky and Seasons

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Understand and use Noongar language to describe the day sky and seasons on Noongar Country, and appreciate the cultural significance of these natural phenomena through language learning.

Success Criteria

• Identify and use key Noongar words related to the sky and seasons.
• Describe the seasons using simple phrases in Noongar language.
• Connect Noongar seasonal knowledge with observations of the sky and natural environment.
• Present information about Noongar seasons confidently using spoken and visual supports.

Curriculum Links

• Western Australian Curriculum: Languages — Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages (Years 3 and 4)
• Content description AC9L1F4C05: Create and present informative and imaginative spoken, written and multimodal texts, using formulaic expressions, simple phrases and sentences, and modelled textual conventions .
• Emphasis on linking language use to local First Nations Country and cultural knowledge, specifically referencing seasons and environmental observations .

Lesson Outline (60 minutes)

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather students in a circle outdoors if possible, or near a window with a view of the sky.
• Begin with an Acknowledgement of Noongar people as traditional custodians of the land.
• Introduce the concept of the Noongar seasonal calendar — explain it divides the year into six seasons based on environmental changes and sky observations.
• Show a colourful visual poster/chart of the Noongar six seasons with key images representing each season.
• Teach and practise the Noongar names for the seasons (e.g., Birak, Bunuru, Djeran, Makuru, Djilba, Kambarang) and key vocabulary for sky features (sun, stars, moon, clouds).

Activity 1: Vocabulary and Phrase Matching (15 minutes)

• Distribute dyslexia-friendly flashcards with Noongar words and matching pictures of day sky features and season-related items (e.g., sunlight, rain, wind, native plants).
• In pairs, students match vocabulary cards to images and say the words aloud together.
• As a class, repeat the vocabulary focusing on pronunciation and rhythm.
• Use chant or call-and-response methods to embed language sounds.

Activity 2: Story and Sky Observation (15 minutes)

• Share a traditional Noongar story or legend about the sky and seasons (story simplified, with illustrated storytelling book or multimedia aid).
• Prompt students to listen for key words and phrases related to sky and seasons.
• Discuss the story’s connection to the environment and how Noongar people observe changes in the sky to understand seasonal shifts.
• If outdoors, guide students briefly to observe the sky, noting sun position, cloud shapes, or star visibility depending on the time of day.

Activity 3: Create a Seasonal Diary Entry (15 minutes)

• Using a scaffolded writing frame (simple phrases with Noongar words), students create a short multimodal diary entry about today’s sky and season.
• Encourage inclusion of drawings, labelled with key Noongar terms.
• For example: “Djilba season. Noon sun bright. Djinda (star) twinkling.”
• Support students needing help with sentence structure or spelling, offering word banks and pictorial support.
• Advanced learners can write additional sentences or create a mini-poster showing characteristics of another Noongar season.

Conclusion and Sharing (5 minutes)

• Invite volunteers to share their diary entries or drawings with the class, practising clear pronunciation.
• Recap season names and sky vocabulary through a short interactive verbal quiz or game.
• Reinforce the importance of language and Country connection in understanding the natural world.

Differentiation Strategies

• Provide visually rich, dyslexia-friendly materials (clear fonts, colour-coded categories, pictograms).
• Pair less confident students with peers or support staff for paired activities.
• Use multisensory techniques: verbal repetition, visual aids, movement (e.g., miming weather or sky elements).
• Allow alternative recording methods, e.g., audio recordings or digital drawings.

Extension Activities

• Challenge advanced students to research additional Noongar seasonal signs (e.g., animal behaviour, plant blooming) and present their findings in simple Noongar phrases.
• Create a class seasonal calendar incorporating Noongar days and observations with student artwork and sentences.
• Make and perform a simple Noongar song or chant about the seasons and sky.

This lesson plan connects Western Australian Curriculum Languages outcomes for Year 4 Aboriginal Languages learning with practical cultural content focused on Noongar Country's day sky and seasons. It balances oral language, visual literacy, and cultural understanding while embedding Indigenous perspectives and language using multimodal text creation, in line with specified curriculum code AC9L1F4C05 . The plan includes clear WALT statements, success criteria, strategies for diverse learning needs, and extension beyond the core objectives — aiming to engage and "wow" teachers with culturally responsive, multimedia-supported, and age-appropriate language learning.