Artefact 1:4

Explanation of Teaching Approach Indigenous Knowledge

from a Science Unit of Work

Teaching Approach: Indigenous Knowledge

The teaching approach we choose to do was the Indigenous Knowledge approach. To guide
this approach we used the “8 ways of teaching Indigenous knowledge” pedagogies such
story-sharing , land-links (engaging students with importance of the land or just taking
activities outside), community (group-orientated and integrating community members), non-
verbal (watch then do approach), kinaesthetic learning (hands on problem solving activities
and experiments) and using symbols and image (using drawing as a mean of
communicating ideas).

Throughout this unit we have placed emphasis on the use of land within the lessons, as we
explore the Indigenous ideas of the creation and the importance and understanding of
nature, physically or visually immersing with the environment. Some lessons are inspired by
the Indigenous idea of “Watch first, then do” with the students watching the instruction but
then being able to have a hands approach of doing the activity and explore for themselves.
Students will work collaboratively, in line with St Mary’s term priority of “working together”,
but also as part of the Indigenous Knowledge approach of students working with each other
to achieve a common goal.

Part of this teaching approach is about educating students on the importance of land to
Indigenous people, also interconnecting the Catholic Social Teaching Principle -
Stewardship of Creation. Students will learn how the Sun rotates around the Earth and how
this provides day and night, but will also learn about the responsibility within that and how it
affects our day to day lives. Throughout this unit, the school framework of “Be responsible,
Be safe and Be respectful” will be mandated in each class, as students learn to work
together, share ideas and be respectful of other people’s opinions/concepts. This approach
will also help students understand the different cultural groups and learn science not just
from a Western perspective but also from the Indigenous perspective. This will help
celebrate different cultures within the classroom and potentially give a basis for students to
go back and explore their own cultural understanding of day and night.