This year’s Reconciliation Week theme, “All In”, calls on all Australians to commit to reconciliation through everyday action. For educators, it’s an opportunity to reflect on how First Nations perspectives are embedded in children’s inquiries and explorations. Where are opportunities to strengthen your practice? How might you support children to engage with and value the knowledge systems of First Nations peoples?
One powerful gateway is learning to spot STEM in the everyday. Just as educators learn to recognise STEM in ordinary moments, we can also recognise the STEM knowledge embedded in First Nations cultures, communities, and Country.
When educators intentionally draw attention to these connections, children can investigate and learn from the deep knowledge systems of First Nations peoples through their own questions, discoveries, and explorations. Read on for age-appropriate ideas & resources.
Botany & food exploration
Do your children enjoy exploring plants, seeds, or growing foods? Here are some resources to help connect your children’s interests with First Nations knowledge:
🌰 Wingaru Education’s resource: Learn how to use wattleseeds for playdough, sensory art, and energy balls.
📲 Koori Curriculum’s Facebook page: Koori Curriculum’s “Let’s Yarn About” series encourages educators to critically reflect on embedding Aboriginal perspectives in early childhood settings through respectful, culturally informed practices, while also exploring topics connected to Australian flora, fauna, Country, and authentic place-based learning.
📕 Deadly Science’s book, “How Plants Thrive”: Learn about First Nations innovations and knowledge used to understand natural phenomena, such as:
- Seeds that need fire to crack open.
- Carnivorous plants that eat insects.
- Plants used to soothe a sore throat.
Engineering & design
First Nations communities have contributed countless engineering innovations spanning agriculture to house construction. Here are a few online resources exploring these innovations:
🎣 Deadly Story’s blog: Discover examples of First Nations engineering, such as fish traps made of stone.
👒 Design and Technology Teachers Association (Victoria): A helpful directory of First Nations design innovations, including Indigenous fashion projects and weaving.
🌿 Téa&Belle’s blog: Explore 13 First Nations innovations, such as firestick farming, bush medicine, and the first superglue.
🧸 Play School Science Time: Watch the Fascinating Fish Traps episode of Play School Science Time with guest host Vince from Deadly Science to explore sustainable fish trapping practices.
First Nations STEM innovators
Do you know about Australia’s First Scientists and STEM innovators? Invite your children to learn about the achievements of First Nations people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with the help of the resources below:
🏆 CSIRO’s Indigenous STEM Awards: Explore previous winners of this prestigious award — which includes First Nations STEM professionals, teachers, and students — and gain insight into their innovative work that has shaped the future of STEM practices.
🥇 Questacon’s list of First Nation’s STEM Champions: These short interviews are a great way to hear directly from First Nations STEM Champions
📚 Narragunnawali’s educator guide: In addition to a timeline of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science, this guide includes a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scientists and organisations, such as Faye McMillan, Australia’s first Aboriginal pharmacist.
Online PD: “Connecting with First Nations Knowledge”
Embedding First Nations perspectives into early STEM education requires respectful, culturally safe practices grounded in authentic relationships with First Nations people.
Watch our STEM Hour recording “Connecting with First Nations Knowledge in Early STEM” to explore the experiences of two non-First Nations educators who are already on this journey. During Reconciliation Week, Little Scientists offered this recording for free. Although this offer has now ended, you can still purchase 30-day access for $30 per person.
Seasonal inquiry
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have passed down weather and climate knowledge through generations. If your children are undertaking an inquiry-based project on their observations of the weather, introduce the Indigenous seasonal calendars, which are localised to different language groups.
Find the Indigenous seasonal calendar relevant for your region using the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology websites. Here are some ideas to explore these with your children:
🗓️ Explore the meteorological characteristics of the Indigenous seasons. For example, the D’harawal calendar has information on “Burran” (the hot and dry season), “Burrugin” (cold and frosty), and “Parra’dowee” (warm and wet).
🦚 Invite the children explore the ecological indicators of each season, such as lyrebirds building mounds in the cold and windy season.
Have a question about Reconciliation Week or exploring First Nations STEM? Join Little Scientists’ Facebook group “Early STEM Educators Network” to exchange STEM ideas and questions with educators all over Australia.
Evidence-based STEM professional development:
- In-person STEM workshops.
- In-service STEM workshops.
- Online STEM workshops.
- Online STEM Hours.
- Certify as a Little Scientists House.
