Timetable Big Day Out

Mathematics in Indigenous Contexts

BIG DAY OUT

Thursday 21st October 2004

WARRENCENTRALSCHOOL

TIMETABLE – BIG DAY OUT

9 am / Depart WarrenCentralSchool for the Beemunnel
9.30 am / Welcome to Country
Acknowledgment to the use of the Beemunnel
Talk by Community members about the Beemunnel – Coral Fuller and Lorraine Pearce
Recess
Groups to rotate through the activities:

Aboriginal drawing

Game - kee’an

Rick Powell and the Boomerang

Spear throwing

Distance from tree

Boomerang throwing

Mapping and grid activity

Games – Weme

12.45 pm / Student reflections
Pack Up
1.00 pm
Return to WarrenSchool

Aboriginal Drawing

Draw to exact measurement and decorate the following:

Didgeridoo – 150 mm
Spear – 16.5 cm
Emu egg – length 8 cm

Sketch the historic tree stump.

Estimate the girth of the tree.

Game: Kee’an

Background

In areas of North Queensland a game of throwing skill was played. A large sized animal bone (with twine attached to it) was thrown over a net (used to catch emus) and into a pit or hole. Considering the distance to the hole, great skill was required to correctly aim the bone and ensure that it did not touch the net.

Players

-The game is played singly or in teams of 2-4 players

Playing area

-A badminton court and net or similar arrangement

Equipment

-Use ‘foxtail or comet’ balls or a tennis ball in a stocking to represent the bone with twine attached. When a ball in a stocking is used, the length of the foxtail may be adjusted.

-Use a large plastic bin as the pit or hole

Game play and basic rules

A bin is set up in each half of the court to allow for two games at the same time. Players try to throw the foxtail from the baseline of the court over the net and into the bin. The bin is placed touching the inside of the center of the front line of the court. A longer distance could be used for very skilled players.

Players take turns to throw the foxtail into the bin. Younger players may hold the foxtail in the middle of the tail and older players hold it where the end and center sections join.

Variations

-Sports day competition event. Use the usual set-up or arrange medium-sized storage bins (circular) along the sideline of a tennis court. Competitors line up on the opposite singles sideline. A player has 10 attempts to throw the foxtail into the bin. Record the results. A longer competition would consist of three rounds of 10 attempts. The first round would be from the centerline, the second round from the singles sideline and the third round from the doubles sideline.

-Tabloid version. As a tabloid or skill activity players in groups of 4-8 line up behind one another. Players take it in turns to throw the foxtail into a small bin from 3-5 meters away. As an extra challenge the balls are held in the middle of the tail and are lobbed over a set of Kanga stumps into the bin. Players retrieve the ball after their turn and give it to the next player. Keep a team score for a set time or number or turns.

Language

The game is called kee’an which means ‘to play’ in the Wik-Mungkan language of North Queensland.

Rick Powell, Narromine

Activity: Throwing a Returning Boomerang

The shape and weight of the boomerang was explained to the group.

The inner angle of the shape was discussed. Students were asked to estimate the actual angle of the boomerang. The angle was between 30° and 40°. Rick explained that this angle varied on different types of boomerangs and this determined the use of the boomerang.

Throwing the boomerang was very carefully explained. Students had to make certain of the original holding position of the boomerang in relation to the arm and the shoulder, looking at the angle it made with the horizon. The positioning of the hand on the tip was very important.

After each throw the students were asked to estimate the distance of the landing to the original throwing point.

The wind direction was also calculated by Trick to ensure a safe zone for throwing.

Spear Throwing - echidna

Name / Distance / Time / Speed
Jenna
Amelia
Tara
Sophie
Jonathon
Anthony
Jarrod
Ryan
Natalie
Liz
Taylor

Distance Between Markers and a Tree

Equipment: Markers, Tape or ruler, worksheet, pen/pencil

Teacher/Leader:

Use labelled markers firmly placed into the ground.

Student Activity

1.Estimate the distance between the marker and the tree base, and record your answer in the table below.

You will have to decide which unit of measure you choose.

2.Within the group measure the actual distances between the markers and the tree base

Marker / Estimate / Actual distance / Difference between Actual and Estimate
A
B
C
D

3.Calculate the difference between the actual and the estimate.

4.Were your estimates accurate? ______

5.What helped you in deciding on your estimates? ______

What “benchmark” did you use? ______

6.Why it is important that we are able to estimate with a certain degree of accuracy?

______

7.Give examples/situations where our estimates need to be accurate? ______

______

Estimating Measurements

Distance / Estimate / Actual

Boomerang Throwing - echidna

Name / Distance / Time / Speed
Jenna
Amelia
Tara
Sophie
Jonathon
Anthony
Jarrod
Ryan
Natalie
Liz
Taylor

Mapping grid activity

1. / Mark on the map the Beemunnel site at W,17
2. / Mark on the map WarrenCentralSchool at P, 5
3. / What place of interest is found at:
a) O,17 …………………………….. b) H,9 ………………………………………
c) J,13 …………………………….. d) N,4 ……………………………………..
e) N,9 …………………………….. f) T,11 …………………………………….
g) Q,10 …………………………… h) F,16 …………………………………….
4. / What street/road is found at:
a) E,14 …………………………………………….
b) O,8 ………………………………………………
c) U,13 ………………………………………………
d) Y,6 ……………………………………………….
5. / Write down the coordinates of:
a)Victoria oval ……………………………….
b)Saleyards …………………………………….
c)Hospital …………………………………….
d)Treatment works ……………………………
6. / Where is the corner of:
a) Chester St and Stafford St ……………………………………………
b) Carinda Rd and Old Showground Rd …………………………………
c) Orchard St and River Ave …………………………………………….
d) Burton St and Cobb Lane ……………………………………………..
7. / Using the scale, estimate the distance form the Beemunnel to the corner of Gillendoon St and Coonamble Rd.

Game: Weme

Background

The Walbiri people of central Australia played a stone bowling game. player threw the stone, which was then used as a target by the second player. Players alternated turns with each aiming at the other’s stone.

Players

Between 1 and 4 players

The game can be played alone, one player against another player or in pairs of players playing another pair.

Playing area

A designated area

Equipment

Use two sets of lines (each 5 metre long) marked 10 or more metres apart – the distance depending on age and ability of players.

Game and basic rules

The game is a bowling game where balls are rolled underarm along the ground. Players may toss a coin for choice to start. Turns are taken from behind designated lines.

One player starts the game by rolling their ball toward the line marked on the ground 10 metre away. If the ball passes beyond this line then the player scores a point.

After a fair roll, which stops before the line, the second player rolls their ball to try to hit the first ball. If the ball is hit, the second player scores a point.

Both players then collect their balls and the game is restarted from the other end.

Players alternate turn. The second player now has the firsts turn.

If the game is played in pairs one player from each stays at each end. Teams alternate turn.

One point is scored fro each hit. The first player or team to reach 11 points ids the winner. Play continues until the game is decided.

Language

The game is named Weme after a word from the eastern Arrente language of Central Australia, which refers to ‘throwing something at something else and hitting it’.

Reflections

Activity: Talk by Community Elders

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Activity: Spear Throwing

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Activity: Boomerang Throwing

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Activity: Aboriginal Drawing

Activity: Distance from the Tree

Activity: Game Weme

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Activity: Game Kee’an

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Activity: Mapping and Grid Activity

Activity: Rick Powell and the Boomerangs

Sketch the historic tree stump.

Estimate the girth of the tree.