k-6 linkages - a K-6 curriculum project by the Board of Studies, NSW, Australia
curriculum integration Integrated Units Reference Material Generic Outcomes Guiding Statement K-6 Content Links
k-6 linkages front page
Saint Catherine's Teacher Librarians Beaumont Road Broken Bay Diocese Aboriginal Perspectives Multi-stage
 

 

Leaving book cover

Front and back of book 'Leaving' that this unit is based on

 
1 2
Students write and illustrate their experiences of leaving somewhere

 


Students made a display of goodbye in other languages

 

Sally Morgan's My Place. The artwork represents the story of the artist's family and the importance of community life

Reproduced with permisssion of Sally Morgan.


 
2 3
Students write and illustrate pictures of family celebrations and community events

 

leaving- Saying goodbye and reuniting

Introduction
Outcomes Being Addressed
Learning Sequences:
Concluding Activity
Assessment for Learning
Resources

Learning sequence 1

Read the book Leaving by Katrina Germein.

Discuss what or who we have left to come to school today? Mum, Dad, brother, sister, grandparent, pet.

Ask students if they have really left their family.

Ask students to brainstorm some of the reasons why people leave.

  • They move house.

  • Someone in the family leaves the family home - for a short time, for the day, overnight, on holidays, forever.

  • They move overseas - for work, for a holiday, forever.

Discuss with the students: Who leaves? When? For example, Dad/Mum to go to work, older brother or sister leaves home, aunt or uncle goes overseas, grandparent dies.

Discuss the term 'goodbye'. What does it mean? What are some other words people say when someone is leaving? Find words from other languages that are used when someone is leaving. Do they mean the person is leaving forever?

  • Goodbye could be forever - someone will not be coming back.

  • Goodbye could mean I'll be back some time to visit.

  • Goodbye could mean I'll be back soon.

Build a word bank with students on words for goodbye and greetings for different occasions from different cultures including Aboriginal languages. These could be traditional or contemporary.

Generalisation: We say goodbye for different purposes/reasons at different times. Some cultures do not have a word for goodbye. Some cultures don't think you ever really leave the family.

  • Discuss celebrations family and friends have to say goodbye or reunite. Are any of these culturally based?

  • Ask students to brainstorm when family and friends get together, eg birthdays, anniversaries, Christenings, weddings.

  • What were the significant events when Aboriginal groups met together? Examples: initiations, seasonal food sources, seasons of the years.

Generalisations :

  • All around the world people have special occasions and significant events that they celebrate, eg birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and special family days.

  • Sometimes we get together as a group, a community or even a whole nation to celebrate a special event. For example, local community fun run, school fete, fireworks night, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Valentine's Day, Mothers/Fathers Day, St Patrick's Day, New Year celebrations.

  • Some celebrations are religious ones. For example, Easter, Christmas, Passover, Bar mitzvah, Wesak (Buddhist festival in Burma), Festival of the Golden Tooth (Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka), Ramadan, Diwali (festival of lights celebrated by Hindus in India).

  • Significant events cause people to get together.

Show artwork of Sally Morgan's My Place. The picture tells the story of the artist's family and the importance of community life.

Activity: Students write and illustrate pictures of family celebrations at home or in the community.

continue on to next learning sequence

 

 

 

 
 
top of page