The Bibbulmun Track traverses the country of a sub-group of the Nyungar, Nyoongar or Noongar people. As the Noongar people are known and acknowledged as the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters over which the Bibbulmun Track passes, naturally this cultural connection will be integrated into our elemental learning, as we prepare to cross Bibbulmun Country.

We have already found some library books and been watching some videos that are giving us some initial connections to our learnings, which we will write about soon.

Aboriginal perspectives in Australia are important to us as a family.  We don’t really ‘do’ history in any formal way, other than coming across great historical ‘fiction’, movies, news and events etc. that often serve as a springboard to discuss issues and perspectives.  Lucas loved the ‘Treehouse’ books that Terry Denton co-wrote and illustrated, in fact, as a reluctant reader, they are the only books he has literally ‘read’ and looked forward to each sequel coming out.  Terry Denton has literally, very cleverly, had every reluctant reader boy in Australia ‘reading’ his books 🙂

So when I found this ‘Upside-Down History of Down Under’ co-written and illustrated with his typical cartoon humour by Terry Denton, aimed at around Year 8 kids, I thought it would be a great Aussie History book for us to read together, and I have not been disappointed :-).  It tells the story of Australia from 230 million years ago to Federation.

It is easy to read, full of diagrams and cartoons, and has the right amount of ‘bigger’ words, not disrupting an easy flow, but enough to extend thinking and promote discussion. It weaves where the authors may have found evidence about what they are writing: science, oral stories, newspapers, journals…again not disrupting the flow but mentioned here and there to promote discussion of perspectives and interests in the construction of history.

C0-writer Alison Lloyd also has a website with more info and a teacher’s guide if you wanted to do some extension activities, the book is also loaded with stats, numbers and geological events that can springboard maths and science explorations …but just reading together is enough to spark lots of conversations and discussion, and we will of course integrate it into the other things we are leading to at the moment 🙂

Love finding these gems created by peeps that know how to engage kids in meaningful learning 🙂