About a month ago, we at the elementary were lucky enough to catch a splendid, magical show, ‘Saltbush Cheering Carpet‘, that was visiting our city. It is was about 2 aboriginal friends that journey across Australia and learn the secrets of their land.
Since then the elementary children have been researching all things Australia and a web of Australia has filled our environment.
The children have studied human migration routes, paleogeography and crustural plates, Australia’s political and economic geography, it’s the flora and fauna, how people satisfied their fundamental needs – then and now, indigenous Australian art, and of course, dreamtime myths.
Finally, as a consolidation of everything they had been working on, the children produced a play.
They chose from the stories they had written in the style of dreamtime myths, through a secret ballot.
The story they voted for was “Why The Kangaroo Hops”.
Each afternoon for a week, they practiced their play. Each evening they worked with their parents to make their costumes.
Finally, they performed the play for the entire school on the day of our christmas celebrations!
Though I have worked with the elementary children for 10 years now, I never know where an experience will take us. A month ago as we sat mesmerized by the show, ‘Saltbush Cheering Carpet’, no one had any idea that our christmas celebrations would have in it rainbow serpents, kookaburra’s and goannas!
Choosing from a list of aboriginal art symbols to paint on their faces for the play
Once upon a dream time, there lived a kangaroo that loved to race with his friends. But because he was so slow, he always lost.
After a race in which the kangaroo had lost yet again, he could take it no more and made his way to the great Rainbow Serpents home in the Outback. He begged the Rainbow Serpent to give him speed.
The Rainbow Serpent agreed, but warned the Kangaroo “Never use your new speed to make others feel bad. Remember to always be kind and gentle to others”
It was the day of the great race and guess what? Much to the surprise of everyone, the Kangaroo won! Though the others were happy for him, the Kangaroo forgot all about his promise to the Rainbow Serpent and started making fun of the others!
The Rainbow Serpent soon heard about the Kangaroo’s rude behaviour and at a conference with the carpet snake, kookaburra and goanna, cursed, “From this day forward, all kangaroos will be destined to hop and not run. Yes, they will be able to hop fast, but each time they spring into the air, they will be reminded to be kind and gentle to others!”
That’s all folks! Hope you enjoyed the show!
