• demonstrate an understanding of the content of Aboriginal Dreaming stories;
• re-create an Aboriginal Dreaming story;
• demonstrate a basic understanding of the application of copyright to oral history.

• Dreaming story - examples can be found at www.dreamtime.net.au/welcome

1. Students are asked to express what they know or have heard about Aboriginal Dreaming stories:
   • Aboriginal Dreaming stories explain the origins of features of the landscape, natural phenomena and ways of caring for the environment.
   • Traditionally these stories have been passed down through the generations by oral story telling.
   • Today many of the stories are being written down.
2. Teacher introduces the concept of copyright to initiate a class discussion:
   • Definition: Copyright protects the original expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. It is free and automatically safeguards your original works of art, literature, music, films, broadcasts and computer programs from copying and certain other uses.
   • Who owns the Aboriginal Dreaming stories?
   • Do you think copyright could be used to protect against publishing these stories?
   • Who should be allowed to publish the Aboriginal Dreaming stories? Why?
   • In the case of oral Aboriginal Dreaming stories the person who writes them down has copyright though it may be in joint partnership with the person who originally told it if they are known or alive.
3. Teacher reads aloud the Aboriginal Dreaming stories found at www.dreamtime.net.au/welcome:
   • Find a story or stories that relate to the creation of landscapes - eg www.dreamtime.net.au/gulaga/text.htm
4. Students are divided into groups of 4-5.
5. Students are given time to plan how they will retell the story using drama.
6. Each group presents their version to the class.

www.aiatsis.gov.au www.dreamtime.net.au/welcome
www.dreamtime.net.au/gulaga/text.htm
www.ipaustralia.gov.au

• Students write their own stories about how different landscapes were formed using Aboriginal dreaming stories as a guide.