JOURNEY STICK Journey

JOURNEY STICK Journey Stick Organiser’s Card About the activity The children have been asked to follow in the footsteps of the Aboriginal Australians and create a journey stick. This has objects attached in chronological order to remind them of their journey and to help with storytelling. JOURNEY STICK When Australian Aboriginals went on long journeys they tied objects to a stick. They would start at one end of the stick and work along it as they travelled. The objects would help them to remember events and experiences on their journey and to tell others of their adventures. In this activity, the children will collect objects to make their own journey stick. Kit list • Sticks (children might choose their own) • Something to fasten the objects to the stick e.g. string, tape, cotton thread, elastic bands • Coloured wool or strips of fabric in a large tray or little bags for each group. They can represent places and events on the journey e.g. blue wool for water or red fabric for the sun setting as the journey ended. What to do 1. Read the ACTIVITY CARD to familiarise yourself with the activity. 2. Check the Kit list to ensure you have collected the necessary resources. 3. Set the scene by discussing the idea of the journey stick. It helps to think about Aboriginal people. There are many websites giving background information 4. Show the children a stick and discuss possible ways of recording things on the stick. Remember to think about recording events as well as objects. 5. Give children time to discuss what they might find and experience on their journey. They might also help to plan their route. 6. Remind children about safety and plants they must not pick. 7. Set the groups off on their challenge. If they go in different directions to increase the variety, you may need to ask additional adults to help you. 8. Remind the children to record things in order and not to have too many items. 9. Give the children about 20 minutes for their journey. 10. When the children return give them time to discuss what they are going to talk about. 11. Form a circle and share stories of their journeys using the journey sticks.

Things to think about Encourage the children to attach their own items to the stick and to record events and experiences as well as objects. Some plants are poisonous or irritate skin. Others are rare and should not be collected. If you are uncertain, check with someone or avoid the area. Children should avoid pulling whole plants out of the ground. Animals should not be attached to the stick! This activity will be most successful outdoors, but could be carried out indoors, if appropriate. Take it further Sticks also have another significance for Aboriginal people. Sometimes they were called talk sticks. Whoever held the stick was allowed to talk while everyone listened. You could use your journey sticks in this way when the children are sharing their ideas. Keywords • Journeys • Travel • Mementos JOURNEY STICK Watch out! Children must wash their hands after the event. No fingers in mouths! Avoid poisonous or prickly plants. Avoid going too close to water. Think about the number of adults needed if you are working outdoors. If you go outside school grounds, make sure you follow school and local authority procedures British Science Association Registered Charity No. 212479 and SC039236