First Nations Knowledge

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    Learn with respect

    Public classroom facts about Australia’s First Peoples — Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Sacred or private knowledge stays with community. Ask your teacher for local Country learning.

    Read the guide below, then pick Easy, Medium or Hard!

    What you will learn

    Aligned with respectful HASS / Australian Curriculum cross-curriculum priority themes.

    • Who are First Peoples?

      Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are Australia’s First Peoples. They are many nations with different languages, stories, and Countries — not one single culture.

    • Country (capital C)

      Country means land, waters, skies, and living connections cared for by First Peoples. Caring for Country includes knowledge of seasons, plants, animals, and fire used carefully.

    • Living cultures

      First Nations cultures are ancient and continuing. People live in cities, towns, and remote communities today. Languages, arts, science, and leadership are part of modern Australia.

    • Respect at school

      An Acknowledgement of Country shows respect. A Welcome to Country is usually given by Traditional Owners or Elders. Sacred or private knowledge stays with community — ask local teachers and Elders for local learning.

    Key words

    Handy meanings for the quiz — local teachers may teach more place-specific words.

    Nation / language group
    A community with its own Country, language, and laws. Australia has had hundreds of Aboriginal languages and many Torres Strait languages.
    Traditional Owners
    The First Peoples with ongoing connection and responsibilities for a particular Country.
    Elder
    A respected knowledge holder and community leader. Not every older person is an Elder — communities decide who holds that role.
    Songlines
    Pathways of knowledge across Country that carry stories, law, and navigation — shared respectfully when communities choose to teach them.
    Native title
    Australian law recognising some First Peoples’ rights and interests in land and waters under their traditional laws and customs.
    NAIDOC Week
    A national week celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, achievements, and history (usually early July).

    Grown-ups & teachers

    • Use this as a practice tool — then invite local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander educators for Country-specific learning.
    • Do not invent “Dreamtime” stories or copy ceremonies, designs, or restricted knowledge from the internet.
    • Hard level includes honest history (referendum, Mabo, Stolen Generations). Sit nearby the first time if needed.
    • Prefer official curriculum framing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.

    Choose a level — HASS

    Tap a level to start - you can always try again!

    Easy

    Warm-up - you have got this!

    Medium

    Ready for a challenge!

    Hard

    Super hard - go for it!

    About First Nations Knowledge - Respectful HASS Quiz

    A respectful learning tool for Australian HASS: topic guide, glossary, and a large quiz bank. Public facts only — sacred or private knowledge stays with community. Easy covers identity and respect; Medium covers cultures and living knowledge; Hard covers landmark history and civic ideas.

    Skills Practised

    • •Respectful cultural understanding
    • •Australian HASS vocabulary
    • •Civic and historical literacy
    • •Source awareness and protocols

    How to Play

    Read the guide and glossary, pick Easy/Medium/Hard, answer 12 questions, then read the Learn more box before tapping Next.

    Top Tip

    Wrong answers still teach — read every Learn more note. Ask a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander educator for Country-specific learning.

    In the real world

    Learning with respect about First Nations knowledge supports HASS, Country, and living cultures in Australia.

    Why This Matters at School

    Accurate, respectful knowledge of First Peoples is part of the Australian Curriculum cross-curriculum priority and builds civic respect.

    Who Should Play This?

    Ages 5–13 for Easy/Medium; Hard suits upper primary with a grown-up nearby for sensitive history topics.

    Tips for Parents and Teachers

    • •Sit with Hard level the first time — it mentions Stolen Generations and colonisation honestly.
    • •Pair the quiz with local Acknowledgement practice and community resources — not internet “Dreamtime” inventions.
    • •Celebrate curiosity and careful language (“nations”, “Country”, “Traditional Owners”).

    Common Difficulties

    Treating all First Nations cultures as identical — remind learners that languages and Countries differ. Sacred details are out of scope here on purpose.