By BEST Childcare Consulting
At BEST Childcare Consulting, we know that World Space Week (4–10 October) is an incredible opportunity to ignite children’s curiosity, foster a love of STEM, and build strong connections with families and communities. Space Week is also a powerful way to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, recognising that First Nations peoples are the world’s first astronomers. Their knowledge of the stars, moon, and seasons continues to guide navigation, food gathering, and storytelling today. Embedding these perspectives helps children develop respect for the world’s oldest continuing culture while building a sense of belonging and shared identity.
Acknowledgment of Country for Space Week
“We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and skies where we gather today, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise the deep knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold about the stars, the moon, and the seasons, and we thank them for sharing their wisdom with us. Together, we look up at the sky with curiosity, respect, and wonder.
This acknowledgment can be read at the beginning of Space Week events, story times, or skywatching sessions. Encourage children to join in with a simple gesture, such as pointing to the sky or making star shapes with their hands, to make it interactive and meaningful.
Educational Programming ideas
- Wonder Wall & Question Time – Create a display where children can draw or write what they know about space and what they wonder, including questions about Aboriginal sky stories or seasonal calendars. (Readilearn – 20 Quick Ideas)
- Sensory Space Tray – Add natural materials like sand, ochre-coloured rice, shells, and star shapes to reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connection to land and sea Country. (Twinkl Space-Themed Ideas)
- Storytime & Sky Dreaming – Share Dreaming stories about constellations such as the Emu in the Sky or Torres Strait Islander stories of Tagai. Follow with art activities where children paint their own constellations with dots, inspired by Aboriginal art techniques. (CSIRO Aboriginal Astronomy)
- Space Craft & STEM Projects – Make paper rockets and solar system models alongside seasonal star wheels showing Aboriginal seasonal constellations. (Sydney Observatory Indigenous Sky Stories)
- Constellation Exploration – Use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sky maps and compare them to Western constellations, talking about different ways of knowing. (First Nations Bedtime Stories)
- Family & Community Engagement – Invite Elders or cultural educators to share sky stories, songs, and seasonal knowledge. Include families by encouraging them to share their own cultural connections to the stars.
QIP Write-Ups
QA1: Educational Program & Practice
Embedded Practice: Aboriginal astronomy and Torres Strait Islander sky stories are embedded into planning through books, visual sky maps, and storytelling sessions. Educators use inquiry-based learning to explore both scientific and cultural ways of knowing about the sky.
Critical Reflection: Educators reflect on how respectfully and authentically cultural knowledge was included, seeking feedback from cultural advisors and adjusting practice accordingly.
Meaningful Engagement: Children engage in co-creating artwork inspired by Dreaming stories, learn language words for stars and moon, and share what they have learned with families.
QA2: Children’s Health & Safety
Embedded Practice: Risk assessments cover outdoor night or dusk observations, ensuring safe participation for children and educators. Safety talks include cultural protocols, such as respecting sacred stories or symbols.
Critical Reflection: Teams discuss how cultural activities were conducted safely and respectfully, including consideration of children’s emotional safety when exploring cultural content.
Meaningful Engagement: Children help set up safe observation areas and practice cultural respect (e.g., acknowledgement of Country before skywatching).
QA3: Physical Environment
Embedded Practice: The learning environment includes Aboriginal star maps, Torres Strait Islander seasonal charts, and displays of children’s artwork inspired by Dreaming stories.
Critical Reflection: Educators review whether displays represent diversity and are culturally appropriate, making adjustments in consultation with community.
Meaningful Engagement: Children contribute their own interpretations of constellations and create collaborative murals celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander astronomy.
QA5: Relationships with Children
Embedded Practice: Educators use Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling methods (yarning circles, oral storytelling) to foster deep listening and respect.
Critical Reflection: Staff reflect on whether children had agency to ask questions and express ideas about cultural knowledge in safe ways.
Meaningful Engagement: Children retell sky stories, lead role play (e.g., acting out the Emu in the Sky), and develop empathy and respect for different ways of understanding the world.
QA6: Collaborative Partnerships with Families & Communities
Embedded Practice: Elders and cultural educators are engaged as partners to share sky knowledge. Families are invited to contribute their own cultural perspectives about the stars.
Critical Reflection: The service considers how inclusive and accessible these events were, and seeks feedback from cultural representatives.
Meaningful Engagement: Joint events like stargazing evenings with Elders encourage family participation and strengthen community relationships.
QA7: Governance & Leadership
Embedded Practice: Policies explicitly support embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and respectful engagement protocols. Budget allocations include funds for cultural educators and authentic resources.
Critical Reflection: Leadership critically reviews cultural competence within the team and identifies professional development needs.
Meaningful Engagement: Educators participate in cultural safety training and ongoing reconciliation actions as part of service improvement planning.
Embedding Throughout the Year
- Seasonal Tracking: Observe Aboriginal seasonal changes guided by stars, recording them on a seasonal wheel. (Australian Indigenous Seasons)
- Language Learning: Introduce star and moon words from the local language group where possible, supported by cultural advisors. (AIATSIS Language Map)
- Community Connections: Schedule quarterly sessions with a local Elder or Indigenous STEM educator to revisit sky knowledge.
- Cultural Art Projects: Explore dot painting, bark art, or Torres Strait Islander lino prints representing constellations.
- National Reconciliation Week & NAIDOC Links: Revisit sky stories as part of NAIDOC celebrations, linking to theme of cultural pride and sovereignty.
Links and Resources
- World Space Week Overview
- CSIRO Aboriginal Astronomy
- Sydney Observatory Indigenous Skies
- First Nations Bedtime Stories
- Koori Curriculum
- AIATSIS Language Map
- BOM Indigenous Weather Knowledge
- Readilearn – 20 Quick Ideas
- Little Bins for Little Hands STEM Activities
BEST Childcare Consulting
Celebrating Space Week through both scientific exploration and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives creates rich, inclusive learning opportunities. It helps children build respect for diverse ways of knowing, fosters inquiry, and strengthens community connections. By documenting these experiences across all Quality Areas, services can clearly evidence Embedded Practice, Critical Reflection, and Meaningful Engagement, meeting Exceeding themes in a culturally responsive way. As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an exceeding rating.
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