The Mini Museum: Caring for our Coast
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Audience
Children and families, Early years -
Learning stage
Early years -
Learning area
Creative Arts, English, First Nations, Science -
Type
Learning unit, Learning resources
On this page...
Coasts are places where the land meets the sea and might include beaches, rockpools, estuaries and mangroves. To First Nations communities, coasts are part of Sea Country.
Sea Country encompasses every part of Australia’s coastline – its ocean, plants and animals, its beaches, land and estuaries, its seasons, weather and sky, and its Salt Water People.
Coastal habitats provide food, water, shelter and air for plants and animals and within them plants and animals rely on each other for survival.
The Australian Museum's Caring for our Coast learning program aims to foster deep engagement. The program has the goal for preschool students to have the foundation to be environmentally and culturally aware citizens, with a shared responsibility of the world around them. The physical kit includes a Yoto Player (audio box), objects and a diorama, all from the coast of NSW.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the Neilson Foundation and Dr Zeny Edwards OAM, whose contribution has made the Mini Museum initiative possible.
The Mini Museum is a learning program designed for preschool students and educators.
The goal is to build culturally and environmentally aware citizens, with a shared responsibility of the world around them.
Key learning methods utilised within the program include creative learning, Object-Based Learning, and 'Many ways' learning, which has the objective of bringing First Nations knowledges and Western sciences together.
The Mini Museum incorporates a physical learning kit alongside digital learning resources which aim to bring the kit to life.
The physical learning kit includes Museum objects, an exhibition-quality diorama, and a Yoto Player. This website contains the learning resources that we hope will support educator and student learning.
- The Caring for our Coast learning kit includes:
- Touchable objects and embedment such as a Port Jackson Shark jaw, the inside of a Dolphin flipper, and a cross section of a midden.
- An exhibition-quality diorama that showcases a rockpool/ocean habitat and includes 25 different species of plants and animals.
- A Yoto Player and cards that bring the objects to life through audio like songs and fun facts.
- Accompanying digital resources designed to support educators and engage preschool students in content.
Learning intentions:
- Preschool students have an increased curiosity about the world around them.
- Preschool students have a greater awareness of First Nations peoples and cultures.
- Preschool students have a greater appreciation for the natural world and are more aware of their role in caring for it.
Early Years Learning Framework outcomes:
Learning Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of Identity
- 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Learning Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
Learning Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of being
- 3.1, 3.2
Learning Outcome 4: Confident and involved learners
- 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
Learning Outcome 5: Effective communicators
- 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5
Click here to download the suggested learning program to maximise your students' learning
Click here to download the Risk Assessment for The Mini Museum- Caring for our Coast
The Mini Museum is currently being piloted in Newcastle and Tamworth. If your preschool or daycare centre is in either of these regions and you would like to participate in the pilot, please contact minimuseum@australian.museum
Click here for a checklist to support you between loan periods.
In late 2024, the Australian Museum engaged social enterprise For-Purpose Evaluations to develop an impact framework, study, and report for a new prototype preschool loans program designed to be accessible to regional communities.
The purpose of the report linked to below was to:
- Understand if and to what extent the program is achieving its intended outcomes.
- Identify what factors contributed to or detracted from achieving the intended outcomes.
- Identify areas for improvement and opportunities to increase the impact of the program.
The learnings out of the report are informing current and future iterations and improvement of the program, now called The Mini Museum.
You can read the report via the link below.
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Inside The Mini Museum learning kit
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Introduction video
![Inside the Mini Museum video]()
Watch this video to find out what is inside The Mini Museum
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Opening up the case
![Caring for Coast Kit, December 2024]()
To open the case ensure it is on a flat surface, ideally against a wall, and follow the instructions.
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Objects inside the learning kit
![Embedments in the Caring for our Coast]()
Here you will find a list of items found inside the kit
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Removing objects from the case
![Caring for Coast Kit, December 2024]()
The objects are packed into the case in a way that aims to keep them safe, particularly when moving between destinations. Please read the information below to find out the best way to open and remove objects from the case.
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How to use the Yoto Player
![Yoto player image]()
The Yoto Player brings the content of the learning kit to life using audio cards. Read the following information about how to use it.
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Audio cards and tracks
![Caring for Coast Kit, December 2024]()
Here you will find a list of the audio cards and tracks, and song lyrics.
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Learning program: days 1-5
We suggest utilising this learning program to ensure you and your students are fully immersed in The Mini Museum: Caring for our Coast.
This program could be implemented over 5 consecutive days, or over a longer period. Days 1-5 focuses on the who, what and where of our Coast.
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Day 1: Introduction to Sea Country
![Wind swept Valdivian coastline.]()
Coasts are places where the land meets the sea and might include beaches, rockpools, estuaries and mangroves. To First Nations communities, coasts are part of Sea Country.
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Day 2: Caring for our Coast embedments
![Embedments in the Caring for our Coast]()
The Caring for our Coast learning kit includes 9 coastal animals and plants embedded in resin
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Day 3: Diorama
![Caring for Coast Kit, December 2024]()
The Mini Museum: Caring for our Coast exhibition-quality diorama shows 25 coastal animals and plants
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Day 4: Diorama ecosystem
![Sharks play a crucial role in healthy marine ecosystems]()
The diorama ecosystem shows the interconnectedness between coastal animals and plants
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Day 5: Set up your Mini Museum
![Documentation of Garrigarrang - sea country Gallery]()
Your own preschool Mini Museum can be set up using the resources and activities introduced this week
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Learning program: days 6-10
We suggest utilising this learning program as a follow up to days 1-5. Days 6-10 focuses on First Nations perspectives.
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Day 6: Middens
![Currarong Archaeological Salvage Excavation]()
A midden is where Aboriginal peoples would place the leftovers of foods they ate or tools they made.
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Day 7: Abalone and Oysters
![Blacklip abalone]()
Abalone are eaten by First Nations peoples and can be collected by diving or foraging in tide pools. The shells can be used to make large fish hooks, utilising the existing curves of the shell, particularly the outer lip.
Oyster shells are found in middens in NSW. This shows that they have been used/eaten by Aboriginal communities for thousands of years.
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Day 8: Port Jackson Shark
![Port Jackson Shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni]()
Sharks are often recognised as an important and powerful totem for First Nations people.
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Day 9: Banksia
![Banksia inflorescences]()
Dried Banksia flower heads are used traditionally by some First Nations communities to brush their hair. The flower heads can also be used as paintbrushes.
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Day 10: Dolphins
![striped dolphin]()
Dolphins are often recognised as an important totem for First Nations people.
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The Mini Museum: follow up projects
Here are some suggested projects you can do during or after your loan of The Mini Museum: Caring for our Coast
Time to take action!
There are so many ways we can ensure our human impact on our environments is minimised and it all starts in your own preschool, home and local community.
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The Mini Museum: Caring for our Coast exhibition
![Habitat diorama - Education]()
Take all the knowledge you've gained and recreate your own mini museum!
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Sustainability Action at Preschool
![Preschoolers in Whales and the Ocean educator led program]()
Challenge the children to complete the 7 R's at your Centre or Preschool:
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Action in the local community
![Coastline Habitat]()
We are all connected to our coast – no matter where we are located.
How can we help keep our local community and environment healthy?
Are there any local issues we can contribute to?
What are some of your local animals and plants species? How can we help them?
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