Prep/1 enjoyed a day out last Friday on excursion to TMAG to explore the ningina tunapri exhibition. We had previously been talking about huts, what their purpose was and how they were built. Before we went to the excursion we looked at an ABC news article around. Pakana ranger Brenton Brown is helping re-build traditional Aboriginal huts at Preminghana on Tasmania's west coast to educate the public about the region's Indigenous history. We looked at some of the photos from the article and made some observations. We continued to read the article as a class and learn more information about hut building. Then we chose a picture to write a complete sentence caption for.

When we were at the exhibition, we were excited to see a hut example and we could study it closer. Other popular favourites were the stringybark canoe, the shell necklaces, the mutton-bird holes, and of course the audio of Fanny Cochrane-Smith singing. Some very proud descendants were amazed that they were hearing their actual ancestor’s voice. I think the next thing on our agenda will be a trip to Fanny Cochrane-Smith’s church at Nicholls Rivulet.

In other news we have been exploring families, looking at who lives in our house, who is in our family tree and how our families and connections differ from family to family. The Grade 1’s have been focussing on how their role and life in their family has changed over their lifetime, and will be looking into the changes for other people on their families.

Next week is our last week with our student placement teacher Eva. While we will be very sad to see her go, and miss her interactions with us every day, we are confident she will complete her studies successfully and be a very competent teacher.