Hopalong: YEAR 1 - HPE - Explore

When B-Boy comes to stay overnight, Little J becomes envious of the attention he is getting from everyone. Out walking on Country, Nanna, Little J, Big Cuz and B-Boy find an injured joey. Uncle Mick, a Search and Rescue officer, tells them how to care for the joey that they name ‘Hopalong’. The children feed and look after Hopalong until Mick finds him a place in a wildlife shelter.

Explore - Describe ways to include others to make them feel they belong 

Theme - CULTURAL BELIEFS

As a class, revisit Little J’s story within episode 7, ‘Hopalong’, and ask students to recall what type of animal Hopalong was and how and why he got lost from his ‘mob’.

Organise a ‘sleepover’ at the school (if possible/permissible). Alternatively, have students imagine that they have been invited to have a sleepover. Inquire about who has hosted a sleepover and who has been invited to go on a sleepover. Allow students to provide stories of their experiences: good and bad.

In Little J & Big Cuz, Episode 7 ‘Hopalong’, B-Boy and Hopalong are guests of Nanna, Little J and Big Cuz. As a class, discuss the etiquette and protocols of being a guest in someone else’s house. List the acceptable behaviours that the class agrees on, such as saying thank you, respecting that routines might be different to home, and trying new things, just once, even if they are not sure about them. Similarly, ask the class to nominate some unacceptable behaviours.

Divide the class into smaller groups and ask the groups to develop a list of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours of the host when someone comes to stay. Have groups share their suggestions, such as: providing for a guest’s needs without asking (noticing what they need), and making them feel comfortable and welcome (being friendly). Good hosts share with their guests and make them feel special.

Introduce the concept of travelling through someone else’s country and what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable.

View the Welcome to Country information and clips:

As a class, discuss why the Welcome to Country music, language and ceremonies are different for each Aboriginal nation. Have students pose questions about the similarities and differences of how families live, where they live, and how they live.

Divide the class into two families: one group are the hosts and one group the guests. For the sleepover, have the students list a set of acceptable behaviours for each group. The hosts also devise their own Welcome ceremony, and the guests devise their own Thankyou ceremony. The hosts will devise a set of activities for the guests to play. The guests will devise a gift to be presented to the hosts.