Lesson Plan: Introduction to Noongar Seasons and Weather

General Information

• Subject: Science
• Year Level: Kindergarten
• Duration: 20 minutes
• Class Size: 20 students

Curriculum Links

This lesson plan aligns with the Australian Curriculum: Science for Foundation to Year 2, focusing on Earth and space sciences. Students will explore observable changes occurring in the sky and landscape (ACSSU019). This lesson specifically introduces students to the Noongar seasonal calendar, which is part of understanding weather patterns and seasonal changes specific to Southwestern Australia.

Learn more about the Australian Curriculum: Science

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify the six Noongar seasons.
2. Describe basic characteristics of each Noongar season.
3. Understand the relationship between seasons and weather patterns in the Noongar culture.

Resources

• Visual Aids: Pictures of landscapes in different Noongar seasons.
• Handouts: Noongar Seasons Wheel (a simple pie chart with seasons and key features).
• Interactive Whiteboard

Lesson Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greeting and Settling: Welcome the students and briefly discuss the day’s weather.
• Engagement Question: Ask students, "Did you know that the Noongar people have six different seasons? Can anyone tell me what season we are in right now?"

Main Activity (10 minutes)

Storytelling and Discussion

• Story Time: Read a short story or share a digital slideshow about the Noongar seasons. Ensure the story illustrates how the Noongar people's activities change with each season.
• Discussion: After the story, discuss with the students how the weather and environment change in each season. Use visual aids depicting each season for better understanding.

Interactive Learning

• Seasons Wheel Activity: Distribute the Noongar Seasons Wheel handouts.
• Interactive Discussion: Using the interactive whiteboard, show pictures of each season and discuss the notable changes seen in these pictures (e.g., flowers in Birak, wet weather in Makuru).

Conclusion and Recap (5 minutes)

• Q&A: Allow students to ask questions based on the story and discussion.
• Season Recap: Recap the names of the Noongar seasons and their characteristics.
• Closing: Encourage students to observe weather patterns at home and discuss with their families.

Reflection and Assessment

After the lesson, reflect on student participation and understanding based on their responses during discussions and their ability to identify seasonal characteristics. This informal observation will help assess if the learning objectives have been met.

Modifications for Different Learners

• Visual Aids: Enhance visual aids for students who need more visual learning support.
• Simplified Language: Use simpler terms and clearer explanations for students who might struggle with new or complex vocabulary.

This plan has been developed to make young students aware of Indigenous perspectives on weather and seasons, specifically the Noongar seasons, integrating cultural respect into the science curriculum.