Aboriginal-Inspired Story Stones

Here is an easy-to-make resource which encourages engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (a cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum).

Ever since I completed a teaching practicum on the APY Lands in central Australia I've been fascinated by the Anangu art symbols and by the Pitjantjatjara language.

My interest prompted me to make some clay story stones using Aboriginal symbols (see the list of symbols and their meanings here).  This is something you should get permission from the local community to do if you’re planning on making your own!

So far, we haven't used the stones to tell stories, but we have been testing our recall of what the different symbols mean and trying to identify the symbols in Aboriginal art.

There are some fantastic animations of Dreamtime stories on YouTube.

The stones were easy to create out of white handbuilding clay.  I fired them, used an underglaze pencil to draw on the symbols, then fired them again.  If you don't have access to a kiln, you could make them using real rocks and a Sharpie (I've done that before, too, and it worked just fine).  Or you could have your children make them.

Have you ever made or used story stones?  What was on them?  Please share in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading!  If you liked this idea, you might also like our Aboriginal-Inspired Shell Necklaces or our Clay Creation Station. 

Aboriginal-Inspired Shell Necklaces

Here is a hands-on way you can engage your family with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures (A cross-curriculum priority in the Australian Curriculum).

NAIDOC Week is coming up on July 8, and the theme is 'Because of Her, We Can!'

The following activity celebrates the Aboriginal women who create stunning shell necklaces.

First you need the 3-book set Tasmanian Aboriginal shell stringers.  You can download a fantastic, free multimedia presentation of the books here!  (Requires Flash)

To engage my kids with these books, I set up an 'invitation to create' using string, shells with holes and some beads (not traditional but we didn't have enough shells).

Sourcing the shells sustainably can be a challenge.  The folks at Simply Shells get their shells as a bi-product of the food industry or from abundant species.

The books explain which shells are normally used and how the shell stringers create their necklaces.  You can check out more in-depth teacher resources here.

For a related field trip, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) has a wonderful display of Aboriginal shell necklaces!

Can you think of other ways to engage respectfully with our local Aboriginal histories and cultures?  Please tell us in the comments!  And if you liked this idea, please spread the love.

Looking for more ideas?  Try Aboriginal-Inspired Story Stones!  

“I’m Bored!” Clay Creation Station

Are you sick of the kids saying 'I'm bored!'?  Keep them busy with a Creation Station!

I have a few stations set up on trays in my outdoor shed and rotate them inside.

Since I'm about to put away the Clay Creation Station, I thought I would share what's in it and how we use it. (Australian Curriculum, Foundation - Year 2)

People all around the world have been sculpting the Earth for thousands of years.  Playing with clay gives us a greater appreciation for the Earth's precious resources.

With clay you need to be careful to clean up properly, not combine it with food and drink, and most of all keep dust to a minimum (or you risk developing the amusingly-named but horrible disease pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis - say that three times fast).

Here's what we keep in our Clay Creation Station:

Clay. Don't mix different types of clay because they have different shrinkage rates.

A jar of slip.  Take some clay and mix it up with water to make a paste.  This is to glue parts together.

A board and cloth to cover the board.  One for each person.  Some people prefer tiles, but I find them too small and they scratch my table.  Our boards are about 400 x 400 x 8 mm.  You could also use an old chopping board.

Optional: Specialised clay tools, natural items, a rolling pin, a skewer, a knife.  If your children are younger, a breadknife will do.

A sponge and dustpan to encourage tidying up.  (Hey, we can only try!)

Sometimes I also put a book on display that might inspire creativity.

You can fire your creations or do what we often do and just reconstitute them after enjoying them for a while.  Transient art!

Here is the video if you're more of a visual person (low quality iPhone footage):

Thanks for reading and watching.  This is just one way to encourage your family to be more creative.  What are your suggestions?  Please write them in the comments and we'll be sure to try them!

If you liked this post, try making some clay Aboriginal Story Stones or a clay dig-and-discover kit!  You could also check out our STEM Playroom Tour for more set-up ideas, or see which resources we use to Keep Piano FUN!

Learn Piano At Home The FUN Way! 11 Ideas

Do you have a misodoctakleidist on your hands, that is, someone who hates practising the piano?!

These suggestions are for parents who want to encourage piano learning at home.  Some of the suggestions can be used for other routine tasks, like doing homework or chores.  (Australian Curriculum, Music)

I have collected ideas from around the web to help keep it FUN:

1) A novelty music stamp to record practices.  Keep it within easy reach, e.g. on the piano.

2) Iwako erasers for picking out keys, scales and chords on the keyboard.

3) Novelty rings for helping with fingering.

4) A variety of fun worksheets.  We never insist on worksheets, but my kids like to do them.  (And yet they dislike workbooks!  Go figure! Maybe a whole book is too intimidating?)

5) Soft finger puppets, again for picking out chords.

6) Talking 'Easy' button.  Maybe I like this one just a little more than the boys...

7) Whiteboard with stave on one side and blank on the other for playing dice games. (Easy to make!)

8) Erasable highlighters for marking difficult patches in the music.

9) Card games, if your children are into those.

10) Stick with googly eyes for sight reading.

And finally, the most important tip of all...

11) Fun music, that they actually want to play!  If our boys are ever struggling with motivation, this is the key to encouraging them back to a place of enjoyment.

If you'd like to see how we set everything up, including a sneak peek inside my lesson plan folder and the boys' music scrapbooks, please watch the video! (Terribly low quality footage, sorry...)

We use and recommend the Hal Leonard Student Piano Library series (no affiliation).

What are your tips for enjoying piano at home?  Let us know in the comments!

If you liked our tips for keeping music learning fun, you might like our Harry Potter Chemistry invitation to play.