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About

Traditional cooking methods are part of the rich Cultural Knowledge maintained by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples for thousands of years. Year 3-5 students are invited to explore how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People’s Knowledge of chemical sciences informed food preparation and cooking methods using the link between heat and changes in state to generate steam from water to cook food and enhance its flavour and texture.

Through teacher-led lessons, classroom activities, and experiments, students will explore methods such as roasting on hot coals, baking in ashes, steaming in ground oven and boiling. Students will make connections between these traditional cooking methods and scientific concepts, including the states of matter and how they change.

All educational materials are linked to the New South Wales (NSW) syllabus and Australian Curriculum (AC).

Cultural Sensitivity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this module may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, hearing recordings, seeing images or the names of deceased persons may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.

Before you start

Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

Please note that Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) is embedded within these Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (‘STEM’) Education Resources (the ‘Resources’). ICIP includes the knowledge and cultural heritage of Indigenous people, such as artwork, music, stories, language, and cultural objects and practices. For further information about how CSIRO protects ICIP, see Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Principles - CSIRO.

Use of ICIP for educational outreach only

These Resources are for high school educators or secondary school students to support Indigenous STEM. These Resources have been published with the permission of the ICIP owners and with certain conditions on their use. This is to assert the ownership, authority and control of the ICIP owners over their ICIP and associated rights as embedded in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – Article 31

Cultural Considerations

An eLearning course designed to guide educators and STEM professionals in building inclusive learning environments through cultural awareness and community engagement.

Cultural Considerations eLearn Module 

 

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Curriculum links

Australian Curriculum and syllabus connections

View how the traditional cooking methods resources can be linked to key learning areas within the NSW syllabus and Australian Curriculum.

Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links 

Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links - accessible version 

Student and teacher resources

Context PowerPoint

This presentation provides background context for the traditional cooking methods topic including an introduction to states of matter and changes between states. Use it at the beginning of the unit sequence to build a foundational understanding of key concepts.

Photograph of a small fire burning in a square pit dug into dirt ground, with glowing embers and flames visible. A long stick is placed across the fire, surrounded by scattered twigs and soil. 

Context PowerPoint 

 

Classroom activities guide

This guide outlines a range of classroom activities to support students’ understanding of changes in states of matter. Use it to plan lessons to reinforce key ideas through discussion and hands-on learning.

Photograph showing water droplets suspended in air with a background of swirling white smoke or mist against a dark backdrop.  

Classroom Activities Guide 

Classroom Activities Guide - accessible version 

 

Example teaching sequence

This teaching sequence supports Year 3-5 teachers to deliver the traditional cooking methods topic aligned to the NSW syllabus and the Australian Curriculum. Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.

Photograph of small fish skewered on sticks and being cooked over an open fire with glowing embers and ash. 

AC Example Teaching Sequence 

AC Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version 

NSW Example Teaching Sequence 

NSW Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version 

 

Experiment resources

To prepare for the traditional cooking method experiment, teachers should read the Teacher Experiment and Procedure Guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the experiment. The Equipment List and Hazard Management Guide outlines the materials required and key safety considerations. Teachers should use this resource during planning and before any practical activities.

Begin the lesson with the Traditional cooking methods Experiment PowerPoint, which guides students through the experimenting process and provides visual support for the experiment. Students use the Student Experiment Procedure and Planner, which detail the step-by-step procedure and provide space for recording observations, analysis, and reflections. These should be used during the practical activities alongside the PowerPoint to support student learning.

Click the button below to download the Traditional Cooking Methods Experiment Resources zip file, containing 4 experiment resource files.

Photograph of a small campfire with two burning logs emitting smoke on sandy ground surrounded by grass and trees.  

Experiment Resources 

Experiment Resources- accessible version 

 

About

Traditional cooking methods are part of the rich Cultural Knowledge maintained by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples for thousands of years. Year 3-5 students are invited to explore how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People’s Knowledge of chemical sciences informed food preparation and cooking methods using the link between heat and changes in state to generate steam from water to cook food and enhance its flavour and texture.

Through teacher-led lessons, classroom activities, and experiments, students will explore methods such as roasting on hot coals, baking in ashes, steaming in ground oven and boiling. Students will make connections between these traditional cooking methods and scientific concepts, including the states of matter and how they change.

All educational materials are linked to the New South Wales (NSW) syllabus and Australian Curriculum (AC).

Cultural Sensitivity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this module may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, hearing recordings, seeing images or the names of deceased persons may cause sadness or distress and in some cases, offend against strongly held cultural prohibitions.

Before you start

Respecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property

Please note that Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) is embedded within these Indigenous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (‘STEM’) Education Resources (the ‘Resources’). ICIP includes the knowledge and cultural heritage of Indigenous people, such as artwork, music, stories, language, and cultural objects and practices. For further information about how CSIRO protects ICIP, see Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Principles - CSIRO.

Use of ICIP for educational outreach only

These Resources are for high school educators or secondary school students to support Indigenous STEM. These Resources have been published with the permission of the ICIP owners and with certain conditions on their use. This is to assert the ownership, authority and control of the ICIP owners over their ICIP and associated rights as embedded in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) – Article 31

Cultural Considerations

An eLearning course designed to guide educators and STEM professionals in building inclusive learning environments through cultural awareness and community engagement.

Cultural Considerations eLearn Module 

 

1
00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,400
(bright music)

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- Hi, my name is Errol.

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I'm a Birpai man from
Taree in New South Wales.

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And today we're going to be talking about

5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,520
one of the most popular
plants in Australia,

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the lemon myrtle.

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The botanical name is
Backhousia citriodora.

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It belongs in the family
called the Myrtaceae family,

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which is a close cousin to the eucalypt.

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The plant was typically
used by Aboriginal people

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for thousands of years
for medicinal purposes

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and also in cooking.

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The plant will grow up to around about

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three to five metres high
and about three metres width,

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and so it can grow quite large.

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It is a native of south east Queensland

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and northern New South Wales.

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So really does like that subtropical heat

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and climates of Australia.

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00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,640
But they will grow in most areas,

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just not in the cold climates.

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00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,000
So we're going to be talking about

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the three states of matter today.

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00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,680
One being a solid, which is
the leaf of the lemon myrtle.

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00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,800
So the next state of matter is liquid.

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00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,280
And so this liquid, we've
made a tea out of it.

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00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,960
And so by steeping the
leaves into some hot water

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00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:14,200
for around about 10 minutes

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or until we see a real change of colour,

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will give you that liquid
form from the solid form.

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00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,680
The final form of matter
that we're looking at is gas,

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00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,760
and this will come in the form of vapour.

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00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,440
And so the steam from this,
you'll then be able to inhale,

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00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,600
and by sniffing that,
there's a real lemony smell,

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00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,960
and by deeply inhaling that,

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00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:37,960
can clear the chest or a blocked nose.

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And then now we're going to enjoy our tea.

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(bright music)

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Lemony. (chuckles)

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00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,400
(bright music)


Curriculum links

Australian Curriculum and syllabus connections

View how the traditional cooking methods resources can be linked to key learning areas within the NSW syllabus and Australian Curriculum.

Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links  PDF (330 KB)

Australian Curriculum and Syllabus Links - accessible version  TXT (6 KB)

Student and teacher resources

Context PowerPoint

This presentation provides background context for the traditional cooking methods topic including an introduction to states of matter and changes between states. Use it at the beginning of the unit sequence to build a foundational understanding of key concepts.

 
Photograph of a small fire burning in a square pit dug into dirt ground, with glowing embers and flames visible. A long stick is placed across the fire, surrounded by scattered twigs and soil.

Context PowerPoint  PPTX (618 MB)

 

Classroom activities guide

This guide outlines a range of classroom activities to support students’ understanding of changes in states of matter. Use it to plan lessons to reinforce key ideas through discussion and hands-on learning.

 
Photograph showing water droplets suspended in air with a background of swirling white smoke or mist against a dark backdrop.

Classroom Activities Guide  PDF (1 MB)

Classroom Activities Guide - accessible version  TXT (25 KB)

 

Example teaching sequence

This teaching sequence supports Year 3-5 teachers to deliver the traditional cooking methods topic aligned to the NSW syllabus and the Australian Curriculum. Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.

 
Photograph of small fish skewered on sticks and being cooked over an open fire with glowing embers and ash.

AC Example Teaching Sequence  PDF (328 KB)

AC Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version  TXT (15 KB)

NSW Example Teaching Sequence  PDF (455 KB)

NSW Example Teaching Sequence - accessible version  TXT (15 KB)

 

Experiment resources

To prepare for the traditional cooking method experiment, teachers should read the Teacher Experiment and Procedure Guide, which provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the experiment. The Equipment List and Hazard Management Guide outlines the materials required and key safety considerations. Teachers should use this resource during planning and before any practical activities.

Begin the lesson with the Traditional cooking methods Experiment PowerPoint, which guides students through the experimenting process and provides visual support for the experiment. Students use the Student Experiment Procedure and Planner, which detail the step-by-step procedure and provide space for recording observations, analysis, and reflections. These should be used during the practical activities alongside the PowerPoint to support student learning.

Click the button below to download the Traditional Cooking Methods Experiment Resources zip file, containing 4 experiment resource files.

 
Photograph of a small campfire with two burning logs emitting smoke on sandy ground surrounded by grass and trees.

Experiment Resources  ZIP (13 MB)

Experiment Resources- accessible version  ZIP (11 MB)

 

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