Lesson of the Day: Emu Playdough Sculpting and the Wonders of Sand
Location: A primary school classroom near Shepparton.
Well, if you told me two years ago I’d be teaching a bunch of 10-year-olds about Aboriginal culture using playdough, plastic emus, and a tray of sand, I would’ve laughed like a kookaburra at sunset. But here I am – Day 31 on the Whoop Whoop Walk About, back in the “classroom,” which today looks more like a mini outback adventure!
The Tools of the Trade
Today’s expedition started with the essentials:
A tub of homemade playdough (safe for kids, of course).
12 eager students, ready to mold “authentic” emus.
And a sprinkling of sand to create our very own Australian desert.
Forget fancy presentations and diagrams. When you’ve got playdough emus and some Aussie spirit, you're halfway to teaching kids about Aboriginal history!
How to Make Playdough: Bush-Tukka Edition
Now, for those of you who want to recreate this classroom fun at home, here's my trusted, child-safe playdough recipe – no bush fires or boomerang blunders involved!
Ingredients:
1 cup of flour
½ cup of salt
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 cup of water
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
A few drops of food coloring (optional – we went with “Outback Red” for authenticity)
Sand (yes, the real deal from outside to give it that earthy feel)
Method:
Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and cream of tartar) in a large bowl.
Slowly add the water and oil, stirring as you go.
Heat the mixture in a pan over low heat (get an adult if you’re teaching tiny adventurers), stirring constantly until it thickens.
Once it's doughy and not too sticky, let it cool.
Knead in the sand and food coloring for a rustic “bushland” look.
Voila! Now you’ve got your very own Outback Playdough.
Creating the Outback: One Emu at a Time
Once the dough was ready, it was time for the kids to craft their emu sculptures. Now, in the wild, an emu can be as fast as a schoolkid running to recess, but here, with our playdough and little plastic models, we had to imagine them standing still.
We set the scene – a tray of sand represented the Goulburn Valley Plains, where emus roamed long before we did. The kids learned how these birds were not just big ol’ sprinters, but also a key part of Indigenous life – from stories to survival.
Now, nothing says “authentic Aboriginal experience” quite like watching kids argue over whether their playdough emu should have three legs. But hey, that’s part of the fun!
The Grand Finale: Outback Adventure in the Classroom
Once the emu masterpieces were complete, we turned our focus to something just as important – connecting to the land. We sprinkled a bit more sand, creating rivers and ridges, while I told the kids about the Yorta Yorta people’s connection to the land.
Each child had a turn retelling Aboriginal stories about emu chases and the first fire, using their own playdough creations as part of the tale. It was like watching a live-action bush telegraph – full of laughs, curiosity, and “who knew an emu could look like that!?”
Lessons Learned
Emus may not fly, but kids' imaginations sure do.
The real Outback may be vast, but you can recreate it with a tray of sand and some creative storytelling.
Playdough may not survive the heat of the desert, but it’s perfect for a fun classroom adventure.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the fancy tools or perfectly sculpted emus. It’s about inspiring young minds to connect with the history and beauty of the Aboriginal culture. Who knew you could learn so much from a lump of dough, a plastic bird, and a bit of sand?
Until next time on the Whoop Whoop Walk About – where the adventures never end, even in the classroom!
Hashtags:#WhoopWhoopAdventures #EmuPlaydoughChallenge #OutbackClassroom #BushlandLearning #YortaYortaStories
Comentarios