Deadly Arts online resources now available on ARTS:LIVE!

In March 2022, The Song Room proudly launched a new online Deadly Arts Collection on ARTS:LIVE, bringing cultural learning to classrooms across Australia with curriculum aligned resources and activities. The collection has been developed by educators to support teachers explore and strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Histories and Cultures through creative arts learning experiences that lift up contemporary First Nations voices.

The Deadly Arts courses provide schools with inspiration and ideas for community connections in the lead up to Harmony Day, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Students’ appreciation of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures will be ignited. First Nations cultural experiences centred on the arts, provide engaging learning experiences that encourage listening and sharing stories within a classroom context. School communities are encouraged to make connections with their own local community members and apply the resources in culturally responsive ways.

Learning about yarning circles and the six seasons from Noongar culture provides teachers and students with the opportunity to share their own cultural identity, and create art and music that connects to their local community and land.

This includes making traditional dolls, writing poetry and seasonal songs that respond to the natural environment.

Learning from contemporary Noongar artists and community members, students appreciate that identity is strongly connected to culture. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own cultural identity and to develop empathy and intercultural understandings.

Led by First Nations Teaching Artists from The Song Room, students will discover the key concepts of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures curriculum – Country, Culture and People. The four-part series encourages teachers and students to explore these concepts through learning experiences in music, visual arts, media arts and English.

The collection includes videos, curriculum-aligned lesson plans, activity sheets and tips for culturally responsive teaching from Foundation to Year 6.

The learning experiences provide students with authentic opportunities to develop the skills, behaviours and dispositions in the General Capabilities and make strong connections to Cross-Curriculum Priorities, such as Sustainability.

The videos were filmed in Perth (Mooro) on Noongar Country with our talented Teaching Artists and the school communities at Coolbellup Community School, Brookman Primary School, Medina Primary School and Neerigen Brook Primary School. Thank you to everyone involved and to Lotterywest who supported us to make these important resources.

Register to ARTS:LIVE today to lift up First Nations voices and learning in your classroom!