Noongar Seasons Matching & Memory Game - by Simone Hills

Noongar Season Discs are a portable educational resource, with a pair of discs for each Noongar Season: Birak (Dec-Jan), Bunuru (Feb-Mar), Djeran (April-May), Makuru (June-July), Djilba (Aug-Sept), Kambarang (Oct-Nov).

The discs have been created with two unique designs for each Noongar Bonar ‘Season’ that are matchable by colour. The design and colours for each season are inspired by our Djet wer Boorn ‘Flowers and Trees’, Worala ‘Weather/Climate and the changes we see in our Boodja at different times of the year; 

Some of the inspirations for each season's design and artwork;

• Birak - Hot and dry, Banksias, Acacias, Banksia, 
• Moort ngardanginy ‘Families Hunting’, fishing season
• Bunuru -  Hot and dry winds Boolkaala ‘Bull Banksia’ Honey/Nectar, Jarrah, Marri, Ghost Gum and Balka/Balga ‘Grass Tree’
• Djeran - Cooler Weather, Ground dampens and boodja ‘land’ starts to become greener with the start of rains, gatherings, ceremonies and Moort ‘families’ moving together, fishing trips, Kondil ‘sheoak’ and Wandoo ‘white gum’
• Makuru - Nyidiny ‘Cold’ Weather, Storms and Heavy Rain, Strong Winds, Wet Boodja ‘land’ and Wetj Noorook ‘Emu Eggs’ 
• Djilba - Rain easing off and start of warmer weather, Kalyang ‘Wattle’, Kondil ‘Sheoak’, Banksias and Grevillea 
• Kambarang - Warmer with light rains, Sheoak, Moodjar ‘Christmas tree’, Wattle, Wildflowers, Orchids and Acacias

Koolangka ‘kids’ can learn about the visual changes in our Boodja during each season. Our open-ended resource is able to be used in a wide range of settings, including matching games, sorting seasonal collections and Noongar Bonar ‘Season’ Kaaditjin / Kadadjan ‘Learning/knowledge’.

Noongar is traditionally an oral language with regional dialects; words and spelling in written form can vary.

This product is created by Emerging Noongar Artist - Simone Hills

Simone is an Awe & Wonder employee, a proud Ballardong , Menang & Yamitji Moort Yok. Simone is an Artist Member of the Indigenous Art Code. This means as an artist she is adding her voice to the call for fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. 

Each disc measures approx. 6cmD

EYLF Learning Outcome Connections

Outcome 1.3: Children develop knowledgeable and confident self-identities as they learn about the Noongar seasons, language and cultural knowledge.

Outcome 2.4: Children develop an appreciation of the natural environment as they explore the seasonal changes of Noongar Boodja and the connections between people, plants, animals and weather.