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NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for schools to learn about, celebrate and recognise the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For educators, it can also be a meaningful time to explore history through creative, respectful and engaging learning experiences.

Art provides a powerful way for students to connect with stories, perspectives and historical experiences. Through visual exploration, discussion and making, students can deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history while developing creativity and critical thinking skills.

Whether you're planning activities for NAIDOC Week in 2026 or looking for ideas to incorporate throughout the year, art can support meaningful learning and cultural understanding across the classroom. 

Why Use Art to Teach History During NAIDOC Week?

Art encourages students to engage with history in ways that go beyond textbooks and timelines. Through learning through art, students can explore different perspectives, reflect on stories and make personal connections to what they are learning.

Using art during NAIDOC Week education can help students:

- Develop cultural understanding

- Explore historical perspectives

- Engage in visual storytelling

- Participate in meaningful classroom discussion

- Build student engagement through creativity

- Connect with Australian history education through hands-on experiences

These experiences support arts-based learning while creating opportunities for respectful classroom learning and reflection.

 

Idea 1

1. Connecting to Country Woven Sculpture

Respond to the local landscape through weaving and found natural materials.

Materials

  • Acrylic wool (Warm and Cool colour sets)
  • Slicks (Warm Earth or Cool Ocean sets)
  • Newsprint butcher paper
  • Brown Kraft card, A3
  • Plastic darning needles
  • Found foliage and natural materials from the local environment

Activity

Students take a walk to observe local flora and fauna, then use those observations to guide the colours and textures of a woven cylindrical sculpture. Coloured paper strips, wool, felt, and natural materials are woven together to represent trees, birds, animals, and the surrounding landscape.

Learning Opportunity 

Builds understanding of the deep connection First Nations Peoples have to Country and encourages students to look more closely at the land around them.

View the full activity: Connecting to Country Woven Sculpture

Idea 2

2. NAIDOC Week Foam Print Flag

Use printmaking to create a decorative artwork celebrating NAIDOC Week.

Materials

  • Foam printing plate (round, 20cm)
  • Colours of Country Slicks Ochre Set
  • Cartridge paper circles
  • Spray mister bottle
  • Wooden scraper tool (blunt pencil)

Activity 

Students etch a design into a foam printing plate, colour the surface with Colour Slicks, lightly mist with water, then press cartridge paper onto the plate to reveal their print.

Classroom Tip 

Remind students to reverse any letters or numbers in their design before etching so they read correctly in the final print.

View the full activity: NAIDOC Week Foam Print Flag

Idea 3

3. Beaded Aboriginal Flag

Use a square stitch beading technique to create a tactile artwork honouring the Aboriginal flag.

Materials

  • Plastic pony beads in red, yellow, and black (Aboriginal flag colours)
  • Acrylic wool (2m length per student)
  • Plastic darning needles
  • Scissors
  • Printed flag pattern template grid

Activity 

Students follow a colour-coded grid template to thread and stitch pony beads into the design of the Aboriginal flag using a square stitch technique, then weave in the yarn ends to finish.

Extension Idea

Discuss the meaning of each colour in the Aboriginal flag as a class before students begin, connecting the making process to cultural understanding.

View the full activity: Beaded Aboriginal Flag

Additional Info

Explore Creative Learning for NAIDOC Week

Thoughtfully designed art experiences can help students connect with history, culture and storytelling in meaningful ways. By combining creativity with respectful learning practices, educators can use art to cultivate curiosity, understanding and appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Explore Zart Art's range of creative resources, lesson ideas and classroom materials to support meaningful NAIDOC Week learning experiences throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NAIDOC Week?

NAIDOC Week is a national celebration that recognises and celebrates the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What does NAIDOC stand for?

NAIDOC stands for the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

How can art be used to teach Indigenous history?

Art can help students explore stories, perspectives, cultural traditions and historical experiences through creative and visual learning experiences.

What NAIDOC Week activities work best for primary schools?

Collaborative murals, storytelling artworks, nature-inspired projects, mixed media timelines and artist-inspired responses are all engaging activities that can be adapted for primary-aged learners.

Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation, Zart acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and culture. We pay respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.