20973_Quick_themes_NAIDOC

Quick themes (NAIDOC Week) 

Published by R.I.C. Publications ® 2019 

Copyright © R.I.C. Publications ® 2019 

RIC–20973 

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Website: www.ricpublications.com.au 

Email: mail@ricpublications.com.au 

TWO-TIME WINNER OF THE 

AUSTRALIAN PRIMARY PUBLISHER 

OF THE YEAR AWARD

Once upon a time the birds of the world were only one colour. They were all black. 

One day, a gentle dove flew down from a tree searching for grains. He landed 

on a sharp splinter of wood on a broken-off tree branch. The dove screeched 

in pain and called out for help. 

The other birds came to help the poor little dove. Some brought him water, some bathed 

his foot and others used their wings as shelter. They all helped, except the bad-tempered 

crow, who didn’t like the gentle dove getting attention. 

The little dove’s foot was becoming very swollen. The birds didn’t 

know what to do. Then the galah had an idea. She used her sharp, 

hooked beak to bite the swollen foot. The gentle dove cried out in 

pain. All the colours of nature poured out of the dove’s 

foot and splashed over the other birds. 

Some were splashed with many colours and others 

only one or two colours. The rainbow lorikeet 

got so many colours that it looked just like a 

rainbow! The galah was splashed with pink 

and grey. The little dove lost nearly all his 

colour. He became a light grey-brown. 

The selfish crow, who didn’t stay to 

help, was not splashed with any colour 

and still remains black to this day. 

Answer the questions. 

1. How the Birds Got Their Colours is an Aboriginal Dreamtime story. 

Think of another title for the story. 

2. Of the two, which do you think is the better title? 

Why? 

original yours 

Indicator: Reads or listens to a recount of an Aboriginal Dreamtime story. 

QUICK THEMES 

R.I.C. Publications ® www.ricpublications.com.au

3. How did the little dove hurt himself? 

4. What three things did the birds do first to help the dove? 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

5. Explain what is happening in the picture. 

Indicator: Extracts and analyses information from an Aboriginal Dreamtime story. 

6. Why didn’t the crow help? 

7. Find a word in the story that has a similar meaning. 

(a) pointy 

(b) looking 

(c) mean 

(d) screamed 

8. Describe the colours these birds became. 

(a) dove 

(b) galah 

(c) rainbow lorikeet 

R.I.C. Publications ® www.ricpublications.com.au QUICK THEMES

Long ago, the animals believed there was no water on the land. 

They could only drink the dew on the grass and leaves. 

One day, Gudjilla the short nosed bandicoot spied Bangarra the blue 

tongued lizard drying himself behind a rock. 

‘Bangarra!’ he cried in anger, ‘You have some water! Where is it?’ 

Bangarra did not want to share his water, so he refused to tell. 

The animals held a meeting and decided to watch Bangarra until he 

led them to water. 

But Bangarra was clever and knew when they were watching him. 

What could they do? Gula the rat offered to follow Bangarra. Everyone 

laughed because he was the smallest of all the animals. 

‘You are too small and unimportant’, they sneered, ‘How could you 

succeed when greater animals have failed?’ 

Gula was sad but he decided to follow Bangarra anyway. 

He watched the lizard very closely. When Bangarra looked to his left 

Gula quickly jumped to the right. If he looked right, Gula jumped left. 

Before long, Bangarra reached the hiding place. As he lifted the rock 

and water began to flow, Gula jumped up and frightened Bangarra 

away. 

The other animals were happy to have water to drink. Gula was a 

hero! 

Using his strong beak, the kingfisher dug out pathways for the water. 

That is how we have small rivers today. 

The message in this story is, we all 

have something valuable to give. 

Indicator : Reads/follows text. 

QUICK THEMES 


Answer these questions about the story. 

1. Match the animal with his name. 

(a) rat • • Gudjilla 

(b) bandicoot • • Bangarra 

(c) lizard • • Gula 

2. Tick the correct answer. 

Gudjilla knew that Bangarra had water because ... 

another animal told him. 

he saw Bangarra drying himself. 

Bangarra told him so. 

Indicator: Demonstrates understanding of text by answering questions correctly. 

3. Circle the three words that describe Bangarra. 

clever kind selfish generous greedy 

4. What made Gula sad? 

5. Fill in the missing words from the word bank. 

forgave ashamed mean 

(a) The animals were 

to laugh at Gula. 

(b) Gula 

them because they said he was a hero. 

(c) Bangarra was 

of being so selfish. 

6. (a) Who dug the pathways for the rivers? 

(b) What did he use to dig? 


How the koala lost its tail – 1 

Read this Aboriginal Dreamtime story. 

Long ago, koalas had tails like possums. 

But then came a time of little rain. Koala 

and Tree Kangaroo were very thirsty. 

They decided to dig in an old riverbed to 

find water. 

But while Tree Kangaroo dug, Koala 

rested. 

‘I need help, Koala!’ Tree Kangaroo said. 

‘I am hot and tired.’ 

‘But you are doing such a good job’, said 

Koala. ‘You keep going. I will find some 

food.’ But Koala just kept resting. 

Soon, Tree Kangaroo found water. Koala 

raced up and pushed him aside. He lay 

on his belly and began to drink the water. 

Tree Kangaroo was very angry. 

‘You greedy thing!’ said Tree Kangaroo. ‘I 

will teach you a lesson.’ And with that, he 

bit off Koala’s tail in one snap. 

Ever since that day, koalas have 

been born with no tails. 

QUICK THEMES 

R.I.C. Publications ® www.ricpublications.com.au 

Indicator: Reads a Dreamtime story.

How the koala lost its tail – 2 

Answer the questions. 

1. Circle the words that best describe Koala. 

lazy kind caring greedy 

sharing busy sneaky 

2. Write the numbers 1 to 4 to put these parts of the story in the correct order. 

• Tree Kangaroo found water. 

• Koala’s tail was bitten off. 

• Tree Kangaroo asked for help. 

• Koala said he would find food. 

3. Why was Tree Kangaroo angry? 

4. Draw and label two pictures to show two things Koala did. 

Indicator: Comprehends a Dreamtime story. 


NAIDOC Week 

Copy words from the list below to complete the sentences. 

1. Aboriginal Australians lived in houses called 

gunyahs. They were made from a 

frame and sheets of 

or palm fronds. 

2. Aboriginal Australians ate bush tucker. They collected ants, grubs and 

. They climbed trees to 

collect 

from hives. They 

hunted fish, 

, eels, 

possum, kangaroo, goanna and 

. 

3. Aboriginal Australians liked to decorate their bodies with waist 

, armbands and . 

4. Aboriginal Australians used many tools. 

They used 

to grind food and 

spears, 

, boomerangs and 

shields to hunt for food. They used 

to cut trees for homes and to make foot holes 

in 

to help them climb. 

necklaces bandicoots belts stick bark berries 

honey birds stones clubs axes trees 

Indicator: Completes sentences by writing missing words to read information about Aboriginal Australian culture. 

QUICK THEMES 



In Aboriginal communities, respected older people, called elders, know the 

culture, history, laws and traditions of their people. They traditionally pass this 

knowledge down to younger people. They often do this through storytelling. 

1. Look at some of the symbols used in Aboriginal art in the chart below. 

2. Choose some to create a story. Draw them in the speech bubble. 

3. Use the symbols to help you tell the story to a friend. Add some symbols of 

your own if you need to. 

boomerang river man woman child kangaroo 

Indicator: Draws traditional Aboriginal symbols to create a story, then tells that story. 

camp fire track snake emu dingo star 



The 2010 National NAIDOC theme is ‘Unsung heroes - Closing the gap 

by leading their way’. 

1. Read about some well-known indigenous Aboriginals or Torres Strait 

Islanders. 

(a) Jessica Mauboy was born in Darwin, Northern 

Territory. She has a Timorese/Indonesian father 

and Aboriginal Australian mother. She is a wellknown 

singer, songwriter and actress. 

(b) David Wirrpanda is a former Australian Rules 

football player. Born in Carlton, Victoria, this 

Aboriginal Australian played for West Coast 

Eagles in Western Australia. He set up The David 

Wirrpanda Foundation in 2005 to improve the 

lives of Aboriginal Australian youth. 

(c) Christine Anu, whose mother is a Torres Strait 

Islander, was born in Queensland. She is a 

dancer and singer who performed ‘My island 

home’ at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Closing 

Ceremony in 2000. 

‘Unsung heroes’ are people who help others in the 

community in some way and do not expect any recognition 

for doing so. We call these people ‘quiet achievers’. 

2. Write about an ‘unsung hero or heroine’ in your school or local 

community who helps others but does not expect anything for doing 

so. Tell who they are and what they do. Use the back if you need to. 

Indicator: Reads information about well-known Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, and completes information about ‘unsung heroes’ or ‘quiet achievers’. 

QUICK THEMES 


Indicator: Reads and comprehends a Dreamtime story, based on one from Cape York in northern Queensland, Australia.. 

How the moon got into the sky 

Long, long ago, there was no moon in the sky. The sun gave light during 

the day but at night there was no light. 

The people of the tribe got together and suggested ways to make it light at 

night. Some people thought about collecting branches and logs to build 

an enormous campfire each night. Others said that would be too much 

work to build each night. 

Then one member of the tribe suggested making a boomerang that would 

shine. If it was thrown high into the sky it would give enough light to see at 

night. 

So the tribe made an enormous shining boomerang. But no matter how 

anyone tried, no-one was able to throw it high enough into the sky. After a 

while, an old man came forward and asked if he could try. Many people 

were surprised that someone who seemed so 

weak could throw it. However, one of the 

elders said he should be given his turn. 

The old man took the shining boomerang 

and threw it high into the sky. It spun higher 

and higher until it stopped and stayed up 

in the sky, shining down on the tribe. The 

boomerang had become the moon! 

If you look in the night sky, the moon can be 

seen in the shape of a boomerang every 

month. 

Complete the following: 

1. Underline the sentences that explain why there was no light at night 

long ago. 

2. Why do you think people thought that building a campfire for light 

each night would be too much work? 

3. Describe how the old man made it possible to see at night. 


Games children play 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children play games that are just like the 

ones you play. 

1. Read about some of them. 

Brajerack (Hide and seek) 

An area is chosen 

for the game. A 

child is chosen to 

be the brajerack 

(wild man). The 

brajerack hides in the 

game area and the 

others try to find him or 

her. After the brajerack is found, 

another child is chosen to hide. 

Pirrha (Ball spinning game) 

Players compete to see who can 

make a golf ball or large marble 

spin the longest. The player holds the 

frisbee (pirrha) in place and uses the 

thumb and first and second fingers of 

the other hand to spin the ball 

or marble into it. They move 

the frisbee to 

keep the ball or 

marble moving. 

A stop-watch 

times the players. 

Players can try to 

beat their best time. 

Kamal (String game or Cat’s cradle) 

A length of string up to two metres 

long is tied at one end. The string is 

placed over the fingers and looped, 

twisted or turned to make pictures of 

animals and other things from nature. 

The mouth, knees 

and other body 

parts can be 

used as well. 

Brambahl (Skipping game) 

Two players hold the end of a long 

skipping rope. A player moves in to 

skip. After skipping a few times, the 

player must perform other actions 

while skipping; for example, digging 

for yams, taking thorns out of feet, 

grinding grass seeds, jumping like a 

frog, dancing and so 

on. The winner 

is the person 

who can do 

many different 

actions while 

skipping. 

2. Write the name of a game you play that’s like each Indigenous one. 

• • 

• • 

3. Choose one of the games above you would like to play and write why. 

Indicator 1: Reads about games. 

Indicator 2: Connects Indigenous games to games they play. 

QUICK THEMES 


What is NAIDOC Week? 

NAIDOC Week – 1 

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines 

and Islander Day Observation 

Committee. NAIDOC Week is held 

from the first to the second Sunday in 

July each year. Indigenous and non- 

Indigenous people can all join in the 

celebrations. Many different activities 

take place across Australia that 

celebrate Indigenous history, culture 

and the achievements of Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander people. 

NAIDOC Week first started in the 1920s 

when there were attempts by Aboriginal 

Australians to raise awareness of the 

problems suffered by their people. These problems include things 

like poor living conditions, their lack of rights concerning land and 

that they were not considered Australian citizens! It took a long time 

for these issues to be noticed and acted upon by the Australian 

government. NAIDOC Week is the result of this finally happening. 

How can schools celebrate 

NAIDOC Week? 

There are poster competitions each year 

that students can enter and display. 

Schools can hold flag raising ceremonies; 

have lessons about Aboriginal music, 

dancing and Dreamtime stories; or invite 

Aboriginal elders to visit and talk about 

their culture. 


1. What does NAIDOC stand for? 

N 

A 

I 

D 

O 

C 

2. When did NAIDOC first start? 

3. When is NAIDOC celebrated? 

NAIDOC Week – 2 

4. What were two problems Aboriginal Australians started to raise 

awareness about in the 1920s? 

• 

• 

5. List three things you could do to celebrate NAIDOC Week: 

• 

• 

• 

6. Who celebrates NAIDOC Week? 

7. What does NAIDOC Week celebrate? 

QUICK THEMES

20973_Quick_themes_NAIDOC

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