Preparation

Equipment

• Art and craft supplies

Lesson Plan

Tuning In

• Students watch and listen to the Julie Wungundin Wandjina video on YouTube. At the end of the video, ask the students:
  • What is the importance of the Wandjina to the Aboriginal peoples? What do they represent?
  • Who is allowed to paint the Wandjina?
  • What is Julie Wungundin allowed to use when painting the Wandjina?

Teacher Instruction

• Display and discuss slides 30-33 of the An Introduction to Aboriginal Art PowerPoint. Ensure that the students understand:
  • the significance of Wandjina artworks to the Australian Aboriginal peoples
  • the traditional meaning of Wandjina artworks and some of their common features
  • who is allowed to paint Wandjina artworks today.
• Use the content of the PowerPoint to record any new information on the Wandjina artworks poster from the earlier lesson.
• Display slide 34. As a class, discuss why the Aboriginal peoples traditionally referred to the Wandjina artworks as ‘gods of falling water’. Brainstorm and list any other known ancient cultures who had ‘gods’ to explain natural phenomenon.

Guided/Independent Learning

• Display slide 35 and explain the Wandjina artworks activity to the students.
• Ask the students to think of a natural phenomenon that they appreciate and imagine a ‘god’ that may have created it. On a blank sheet of art paper, ask the students to create a silhouette artwork using paint, charcoal or crayons of their imaginary ‘god’ in a similar style to the Wandjina artworks. Monitor and support the students as they complete the activity.

Wrapping Up

• Once the students have finished, gather together as a class to share artworks. Provide the students with an opportunity to explain their imaginary ‘god’ and what it represents.

Differentiation

Extending Students

• Encourage more capable students to research ancient cultures and their 'gods' and present their findings to the class.

Supporting Students

• Allow less confident students to work in a group with the teacher or teacher aide to collectively decide on a natural phenomenon for their artwork.

Assessment Strategies

Suggested Assessment Strategies

• used strategic whole class or individual questioning
• observed student participation during learning activities
• recorded student progress on a checklist
• annotated student work samples
• collected and reviewed student work samples
• facilitated whole class or peer feedback sessions
• encouraged student self-reflection
• administered formal assessment tasks.

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