2023 Book Week at Sustainable Play Preschool

Taking inspiration from this year’s Book Week theme ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’, we saw Book Week as an incredible opportunity to continue our commitment to further embed indigenous perspectives into our everyday practice.

At Sustainable Play Preschool, we believe we have a significant responsibility to empower, educate and inform the next generation of First Nations cultures and histories so that they may participate fully in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.

In using their words and their actions, they will create a better Australia for all of us by building and being a part of relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures. We are so excited to be able to share some of the beautiful experiences we engaged in throughout the week.

Book Week Monday: Inspired Shelter Building

After reading ‘Little J and Big Cuz: The Stormy Night’ by Adam Thompson and Tony Throne, we decided to build our own shelter structure on our Preschool front lawn. We purposefully collected sticks, branches and bark from around our Preschool garden and as part of our week’s Bush Kindy excursions. We were conscious not to ‘take too much from one place’ as suggested by Nanna in the story – which aligned perfectly with our Preschool philosophy.

Together we tested a few designs before layering the sticks on top of one another and tying it all together with rope – even making a campfire using the remaining logs. 

Realising that rain could enter the shelter (just like in ‘Little J and Big Cuz: The Stormy Night’) we began to carefully weave bark in between the sticks and branches to help keep the rain out. Although we identified the shelter was not watertight, we decided to leave the shelter structure as is – remembering our learnt knowledge from the story ‘never take too much from one place’.

 

Book Week Tuesday: First Nations Authors and Illustrators

Throughout the week, we endeavoured to recognise First Nations Authors and Illustrators by creating table displays exploring a range of our favourite First Nations books.

As they passed by throughout the week, the children stopped to admire the setups and asked a few questions:

• What’s this?
• What book did they write (or draw)?
• Can we take them to the front lawn to read?

Together we shared stories and tales written or illustrated by First Nations peoples such as the ‘Bush Dance’ written by Sally Morgan and Illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina, ‘Finding our Heart’ written by Thomas Mayor and Illustrated by Blak Douglas and ‘Welcome to Country’ written by Aunty Joy Murphy and Illustrated by Lisa Kennedy. Extending on this experience, we asked the children to share their favourite book as part of our yarning circle. They each explained their favourite book or character and who they liked to read with at home.

These simple displays and conversations, helped our children (and families) to recognise, learn and celebrate First Nations Authors, Illustrators, or topics throughout the week. We feel incredibly grateful to have such a robust and supportive community surrounding the children in our care!

 

Book Week Wednesday: A Welcome Visit From Aunty Michelle

Utilising our outdoor classroom, Aunty Michelle, a proud Darkinjung woman with Wonnarua ties from Kilipiynpiyn Workshops shared her knowledge of traditional dot paintings and the meaning behind them. 

Pulling out her special paints, she helped us to design and paint our own clap sticks – demonstrating and visually transferring her knowledge as she painted her own set! 

As we painted, Aunty Michelle talked to us all about the role of message sticks and how they were utilised in the Indigenous community before technology was available. She also spoke about how painting styles differed from region to region, with each region telling their stories in unique ways. 

We’re so thankful that experiences like this provide the opportunity for our Preschoolers to broaden their understanding of traditional Indigenous painting styles as well as practice their fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and concentration skills.

 

Book Week Thursday: Black Apple Bush Tucker

Extending on our monthly Bush Tucker lessons with Linda from Oz Tukka – as well as recent Science Week investigations – we decided to explore different varieties of apples with a little help from ‘The First Scientist’ written by Corey Tutt and illustrated by Blak Douglas. 

Linda shared a bowl of Native Black Apples as well as typical red and green apples with the children. Together we discussed their different colouring and look, before cutting them open to discover what was on the inside! Cautiously we each took a piece of the three types of apples and sampled them all – sharing our thoughts on their different flavours and textures!

The Native Black Apples were such a hit – so much so that we quickly took the remaining pieces to our Preschool Cook to see how she could incorporate them into our Spring Summer menu!

All week: The Sustainable Play Great Book Swap

Throughout Book Week 2023, we held a Great Book Swap on our front lawn where families, children and community members could bring or choose a book to swap for a gold coin donation.

Our book swap enabled our Preschool to celebrate reading locally, learn more about Indigenous languages and culture, and raise funds for a great cause – the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. With such enthusiasm from the children, we didn’t want anyone to miss out and decided to extend the fundraiser another week so that every child was able to participate.

Overall, we helped to raise $116 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation which will be used to provide books and learning resources to children living in remote communities across Australia!

 

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