Biographical report - Aboriginal poet and activist, Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Year 9/10
English

Suggested duration: One lesson

Summary

This lesson provides students with an introduction to the life and work of Aboriginal poet and activist, Oodgeroo Noonuccal (also known as Kath Walker). Students will view online resources from the AIATSIS website and write a biographical report.

One of our well-known servicewomen is the poet and political activist Oodgeroo Noonuccal, also known as Kath Walker, who served in the Australian Women’s Army Service as a telegraphist/radio operator and was promoted to lance corporal. (The Little Red Yellow Black Book, p. 81).

Learning outcome

  • Students will be able to use information provided to write a biographical report in which they will evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in the poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
General capabilities Cross-curriculum priorities
Literacy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
Critical and creative thinking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures organising idea:  9
Intercultural understanding  

Australian Curriculum content descriptions

Year 9 English

  • Interpret and compare how representations of people and culture in literary texts are drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1633).
  • Explore and reflect on personal understanding of the world and significant human experience gained from interpreting various representations of life matters in texts (ACELT1635).
  • Analyse texts from familiar and unfamiliar contexts, and discuss and evaluate their content and the appeal of an individual author’s literary style (ACELT1636).

Year 10 English

  • Compare and evaluate a range of representations of individuals and groups in different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1639).
  • Evaluate the social, moral and ethical positions represented in texts (ACELT1812).

Provisions for differentiation

Learning support

Students may need additional time outside of the allocated lesson to complete this activity, an/or may need support with the questions.  

Extension

Students could submit an annotated poem by Oodgeroo Noonuccal in addition to their biographical report.

Resources

  • Computer lab or devices with internet access for viewing online material
  • Copies of the Assignment sheet (PDF) - one per student
  • The Little Red Yellow Black Book - an introduction to Indigenous Australia (4th edition), ‘Our achievements’, Aboriginal Studies Press, AIATSIS, Canberra, 2018, pp 78-82.
  • Explore article

For teachers

Ensure that the guidance notes included in The Little Red Yellow Black Book teacher resource have been considered.

Vocabulary

  • Biography

Preparation: Ensure that students have access to the internet to complete this task and copies of The Little Red Yellow Black Book.

Step 1.

Ask students to view the Explore article on Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Read pages 78-82 of The Little Red Yellow Black Book in preparation for this lesson.

Step 2.

Class discussion about the articles and information presented.

Step 3.

Distribute the Assignment sheet and direct students to work on the assignment for 20 minutes.

Step 4.

Give students a final deadline by which to submit their finished assignment for marking.

Assessment ideas

  • Completed report
  • Q and A discussion to check for understanding
Last reviewed: 8 Nov 2019