The 2025 NAIDOC Week Theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Celebrations will be held from the 6th to the 13th of July 2025.
We’ve supplied FREE templates just for you! Print as many times as you like.
Meet Michelle Earl
This eBook has been created with Michelle to help you celebrate NAIDOC Week!
As a proud Darkinjung woman with Wonnarua ties, Michelle has a personal connection to the Hunter Valley and respectfully teaches and celebrates the traditional Aboriginal culture of the communities that reside across the valley.
We would like to acknowledge the Wonnarua people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land upon which CleverPatch™ stands. CleverPatch™ recommends educators, teachers and schools work in consultation with their local Aboriginal Communities (start locally and extend out geographically) when planning activities & learning experiences. Any creative or art making activity that mirrors or replicates Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islands cultural experiences should always be undertaken in consultation with the appropriate owners of that cultural property.
KEY:
Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors.
Keep an eye out for this icon throughout the eBook and be sure to consult an adult if needed.
CleverPatch Pty Ltd ABN 48 130 866 885
ISBN: 978-1-922894-48-9
Live Chat: www.cleverpatch.com.au
Submit an Enquiry: www.cleverpatch.com.au/contact
Phone: 1300 836 522 Fax: 1300 244 139
The Patch: 9 Balbu Close, Beresfield, NSW 2322 Australia Mail: PO Box 7, Hunter Region Mail
Rainbow Spiral Snake
Materials:
• CleverPatch™ Cardboard – White – A4 Pack of 100 – 16288
• CleverPatch™ Acrylic Paint Tubes – 100ml Set of 12 Colours – 20811
• Jute Twine – Thin – 70 Metres – 14037
• Clear Sticky Tape – 18mm x 66m – 17769
• Other materials required: Paint brush, scissors, hole punch and template (page 10).
A wonderful craft idea to accompany the book “The Rainbow Serpent” by Dick Roughsey, published by Harper Collins Australia.
3.
1. Print out the template on page 10 onto white cardboard.
4. Using scissors, carefully cut out both template pieces, before cutting along the internal spiral on the round piece.
2. Using your finger, dot your serpent with your chosen paint colours, making sure to completely cover both pieces of the template. Allow to dry.
5. Attach the head to the outside end of the spiral body using sticky tape.
Paint two eyes on the head. Allow to dry.
6. Punch a hole in the tail of the serpent and tie a 30cm length of twine through the hole to create a hanger. Your Rainbow Spiral Snake is now complete and ready to display!
• Other materials required: Scissors, paint brush and a ruler.
3. Using the pointy end of a skewer, poke a hole through the centre of each turtle shell.
2. Paint the outside of your egg carton pieces – these will be your turtle shells. Michelle has used dot painting, but you can decorate them however you like. Allow to dry.
4. Cut six 30cm lengths of jute twine. Tie a large knot at one end of each length.
7. Take six chenille stems in different colours. Cut each chenille stem into four equal lengths. Bend each piece in half and twist the ends together to create your turtle’s legs.
5. Thread one length of twine through the hole in a turtle shell. Pull it all the way through so the shell rests on the knot. Tie a knot in the other end of the twine. Repeat this process with the rest of the shells and twine lengths.
8. Glue four legs to the inside of a turtle’s shell as shown. Use pegs to hold them in place as they dry. Repeat with the remaining legs and shells and allow to dry.
6. To create a turtle head, glue two wiggle eyes onto a pom pom (one on either side). Use this method to create six heads in different colours and allow to dry.
9. Finish each turtle by gluing a pom pom head to the front of the shell. Allow to dry.
Aboriginal people have always cared for the land and its creatures. It is important to protect animals such as the turtle as they play an important role in the environment and sustainable living.
10. Unscrew the embroidery frame to loosen the inner ring. Arrange the turtles evenly around the frame, tucking the knotted end of the twine between the two frame pieces. Once happy with the positioning, screw the frame tightly closed to hold them in place.
11. Cut a 60cm length of twine. Tie each end onto the embroidery frame, one on either side, to create a hanger.
12. Your Turtle Mobile is now ready to display!
Our Footprint Materials:
• Cardboard Feet – White – Pack of 20 – 10646
• CleverPatch™ Cardboard – White – A4 Pack of 100 – 16288
• Other materials required: Template (page 11), laminator and scissors.
2. Using the feet cutouts, flip half to create an equal number of left and right feet. Colour and decorate each foot to represent the strength of culture that our next generations will need to move forward.
5. Tape a skewer to the back of each foot with the pointed end approx. 14cm below the heel. Tape a couple of skewers to the back of the poster as well.
3. Once decorated, write on the back of your foot the story of why you chose your drawings.
6. Your Footprints and Poster can now be displayed along pathways, in gardens or across grassed areas! Please note: Laminating will help protect the designs, however they are not weatherproof.
Hand Wreath
Materials:
• Decofoam Wreaths – Pack of 10 – 20398
• Soft Yarn – Yellow – 100g – 11311
• Soft Yarn – Red – 100g – 11306
• Soft Yarn – Black – 100g – 12008
• Soft Yarn – Green – 100g – 11312
• Soft Yarn – White – 100g – 11307
• Soft Yarn – Blue – 100g – 17136
• Indigenous Designed Dot Painting Craft Paper Pack of 40 – 20636
• CleverPatch™ Tacky Glue – 250ml – 16494
• Other materials required: Pencil, glue brush and scissors.
The hands symbolise how we will work together into the future.
1. Cut a 10m length from each colour of yarn.
4. Tie the loose ends around the finished wreath. Tie the very ends of the unused wool together to create a hanger.
2. Gather one end of each colour into a group and knot the ends together around the wreath.
5. Trace one left and one right hand onto the reverse side of the paper and carefully cut them out.
3. Wrap the wool evenly around the wreath until all of the decofoam is covered, leaving approximately 30cm unwrapped.
6. Lay the hands on the flat side of the wreath. Once happy with the position, glue each hand in place and allow to dry. Your Hand Wreath is now ready to hang!
Use these templates to help you complete the activity on page 3.
Use this template to help you complete the activity on page 6.
