Indigenous Readers

History of the First Australians Set 1 Reader 12: Shields

History of the First Australians

12: Shields

Shields are used to protect people. Food and water could be carried in a shield. Shields were made by the First People.

The shield was shaped to protect the body. It was round on the sides and the wood was hard.

The shield came from trees. The bark of the tree made the shield. The shield came from special trees.

The shield is cut with an axe. The axe chops out the shape. The shield is taken in one piece.

The shield was made smooth. The rough bark was taken off the shield.

The shield was the same size as the body. The First People would use a stone axe. The axe would make it smooth.

The shield was held from the back. A handle was made inside the shield.

Shields were painted with marks and signs. The tribe marks were put on the shield. This was showing the tribe who owned the shield.

Paints were made from colours in plants. Water was also mixed with clay to make paint.

The paint colours were red, brown, yellow, white and black. These colours came from clay paints.

This is a very old tree. It shows where the shield was cut from the tree.

Activity:

Assessment:

Activities

Word bank

shields

protect

round

special

shape

piece

smooth

handle

owned

colours

paint