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Celebrating Culture and Creativity: Our Rainbow Serpent Art Project

At Hoppers Crossing Montessori Centre, we believe in fostering an appreciation for Australia’s rich Indigenous culture through meaningful learning experiences. One of our recent highlights for was a group project inspired by the Rainbow Serpent, a powerful and important figure in many Aboriginal Dreamtime stories.

The Rainbow Serpent is a symbol of creation, life, and connection to Country. Through storytelling and ongoing discussions, the children learned how the Rainbow Serpent is believed to have shaped the land, carved rivers and mountains, and brought water and life to the world. We explored different versions of the story from various Aboriginal communities, helping the children understand that storytelling is a special way of sharing knowledge, beliefs, and culture.

After listening to the Dreamtime stories, the children worked together across all kinder rooms to create a beautiful collaborative Rainbow Serpent artwork. They used finger painting to make dot patterns, exploring texture and rhythm as they painted. A wide range of colours was used to bring the Serpent to life, combining earthy tones like red, yellow, black, and white with vibrant rainbow shades to reflect the magical and flowing nature of the Rainbow Serpent. Each child added their own unique touch, helping to create a meaningful and colourful piece that celebrates creativity and culture.

Throughout the process, the children engaged in discussions about colours, patterns, and the meaning behind the artwork. This hands-on experience allowed them to explore identity, culture, and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, all while developing their fine motor skills and creativity.

The final piece now proudly hangs in our corridor outside the Blue Gum Room, serving as a vibrant reminder of the children’s creativity and their growing understanding of Aboriginal culture and history.

Our educators are committed in embedding Indigenous perspectives into our curriculum in respectful and age-appropriate ways, helping the next generation grow up with a deep sense of inclusion, respect, and connection to the land we share.

 

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