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Dreamtime Stories

Nov 28, 2024

6 min read

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Podcast Title: Stuff For Kids


Episode Title: Dreamtime Stories


Teaching Resources & Lesson Plans (Coming Soon)


Listen to Episode Here




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[Introduction Music and Sound Effects]


Host (Sam):  

Hey Everyone! Welcome back to another episode of ‘Stuff For Kids’ – the place where we dive into exciting topics, share amazing stories, and explore incredible things happening in the world around us. Today, we’re stepping into the world of Dreamtime Stories. These are some of the oldest and most fascinating stories from Australia, passed down by the First Nations Peoples for thousands and thousands of years. In fact, these Dreamtime Stories might just be the oldest stories in the world!


In this episode, we’re going to learn what the Dreamtime is, meet some cool Dreamtime characters, and hear about animals, the land, and the sky in ways you’ve never thought about before. So, imagine yourself under a big starry sky around a campfire – maybe with a few kangaroos watching! Let’s go on a journey into the Dreamtime!


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### Section 1: What is the Dreamtime?


Sam:  

Let’s start with the big question – what exactly is the Dreamtime? It’s not just a “long, long time ago” thing. It’s more than that. First Nations people explain The Dreamtime, as the time when the world was created. It’s a sacred time of ancestors, spirits, and the creation of everything – land, plants, animals, and even us! And here’s the cool part: for The First Nations Peoples, the Dreamtime isn’t just ancient history; it’s still happening in a way that connects the past, the present, and the future all at once.


The Dreamtime has many names in different languages spoken by First Nations Peoples across Australia. Some call it ‘The Dreaming,’ others might have specific words in their language that can be hard to translate, but each group has unique stories that show how deeply they’re connected to the land and the universe.


Fun Fact Alert!  

Some of these Dreamtime Stories are over 65,000 years old! To give you an idea of how long that is, think about a timeline that includes ancient Egypt, the Romans – it’s still older than all of that, a lot older! It’s not only one of the oldest storytelling traditions but also one of the longest continuous cultural connections on Earth. These stories have been passed down from parents to children, generation after generation, and have remained a core part of life for First Nations Peoples.


Sam:  

The Dreamtime isn’t a storybook you can finish and put away. Instead, it’s something people live with every day, and it’s expressed in music, dance, art, and in the ways people interact with each other and the environment. It’s almost like an ancient code that teaches how to respect and take care of the land, animals, and each other. Imagine it like a living, invisible web that connects everything and everyone!


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### Section 2: The Rainbow Serpent – One Big, Colorful Snake!


Sam:  

Alright, let’s meet one of the most famous characters in Dreamtime Stories – the Rainbow Serpent! The Rainbow Serpent isn’t just a snake; it’s a huge, powerful, and colorful being that helped shape the landscape of Australia. Imagine a snake so long it could wrap around mountains and valleys, with shimmering colors like a rainbow that light up as it moves. Sounds amazing, right?


The Rainbow Serpent is sometimes seen as a creator spirit. According to one version of the story, the Rainbow Serpent was asleep under the earth. When it finally woke up, it started slithering across the land, creating rivers, lakes, and mountains with its huge body. In some places, people even believe the Rainbow Serpent brought rain, making it possible for plants, animals, and humans to survive. It’s like this serpent holds the key to life itself!


Interesting Fact Alert!  

The Rainbow Serpent is a figure that appears in many Dreamtime Stories, but each First Nations group may tell it in a slightly different way. Some communities see the serpent as a protector, while others see it as a reminder of the power of nature. There are even places in Australia where the land formations are thought to be left by the serpent, like river bends or mountain ranges.



Sam:  

The Rainbow Serpent also represents the importance of water. Without rivers and waterholes, life would be impossible in many places, especially in the Australian outback where water can be scarce. So, next time you’re near a river, you can imagine it as part of the Rainbow Serpent’s trail – a gift to help keep everyone and everything alive!


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### Section 3: How the Kangaroo Got Its Pouch


Sam:  

Now, we’re hopping right into another Dreamtime story! Ever wondered why kangaroos have those pouches for their joeys? Let’s go back to the Dreamtime to find out. According to one Dreamtime story, kangaroos didn’t always have pouches!


The story tells of a kind kangaroo named Marloo who found a baby joey one day. The little joey was hurt and alone, with no way to keep safe from all the dangers around. Marloo tried carrying the joey, but with her arms full, it was difficult to get around and find food. So, the spirit of creation saw Marloo’s kindness and decided to reward her by giving her a pouch. This magical pouch was designed to keep her joeys safe, warm, and close to her heart.


Since then, all kangaroos have had pouches for their babies. The story teaches us about kindness and caring for others. Even though Marloo couldn’t speak, her actions showed a huge amount of love and care. The story says that kindness and generosity can bring you gifts in unexpected ways!


Sam:  

So, the next time you see a kangaroo, remember that the Dreamtime explains the pouch as a gift of love and care. And let’s all be a little bit like Marloo, helping each other whenever we can – even if we don’t have a pouch to lend!


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### Section 4: Tiddalik the Frog – The Greediest Frog in the Dreamtime


Sam:  

This next story is about a very thirsty – and very greedy – frog named Tiddalik! Imagine a frog who gets so thirsty, he drinks up all the water from the rivers, lakes, and even the little puddles! Yep, that’s Tiddalik.


One day, Tiddalik woke up and started drinking and drinking... and drinking until there was no water left for the other animals. All the creatures started to panic because they needed water to survive! They soon realized that if they wanted the water back, they’d have to make Tiddalik laugh so he would spit it out. So, each animal gave it their best shot – the kookaburra told jokes, the wombat tried a silly dance, and the kangaroo made funny faces.


Finally, the snake decided to try and make Tiddalick laugh. She started to dance and dance, wriggling and squirming all over the ground until she eventually tied herself into a knot. The knot was so tight that she struggled and struggled to untie herself but was stuck! Tiddalick watched struggle around, trying to untie herself, and let out a small chuckle. That small chuckle turned into a rumbling in his tummy before it turned into a great big belly laugh! The water came gushing out of his mouth and filled the billabong back up once again.

 

The story of Tiddalik the Frog reminds us about sharing. It teaches us not to be greedy because everything in nature is connected. Tiddalik’s actions nearly dried up the land, and without water, all the animals would have struggled to survive. Sharing and balance are essential parts of nature.


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### Section 5: The First Sunrise


Sam:  

Here’s a story that explains how the sun first appeared in the sky. Picture a world with no sunlight – everything is dark and chilly. According to one Dreamtime story, there was no sun at first, and the world was a shadowy, cold place.


The story says that two ancestral spirits wanted to bring light to the world, so they gathered wood and made a huge bonfire. When they saw how bright it was, they decided to create a ball of fire and send it up into the sky. This became the sun! Every day, the sun spirit now rises, bringing light and warmth to everyone.

 

The Dreamtime story of the sun’s creation shows us how important light and warmth are to life. Plants, animals, and humans all need sunlight to grow and survive. Some stories even say that the stars were created by smaller fires made by the spirit ancestors, which is why we see little twinkling lights in the night sky.

  

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### Conclusion: The Living Legacy of Dreamtime Stories


Sam:  

We’ve traveled through some incredible Dreamtime stories today, from the powerful Rainbow Serpent to Tiddalik the Frog’s silly adventures, and learned why sharing and kindness are super important. Dreamtime Stories aren’t just stories – they’re lessons, connections, and the heartbeat of First Nations cultures.*


These stories are celebrated through art, music, dance, and storytelling, keeping the connection to the land and each other alive. So next time you see a kangaroo hopping by or look up at a starry sky, remember you’re part of the same beautiful world that these stories celebrate!


Sam:  

Thanks for joining me on this amazing journey into the Dreamtime! Don’t forget to check out our next episode, where we’ll explore another incredible topic. Until then, keep wondering, keep learning, and stay curious!


[Closing Music and Sound Effects]


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Nov 28, 2024

6 min read

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