oshc activities
Mabo Day / Giant Chalk Torres Strait Map

Giant Chalk Torres Strait Map

Children chalk a giant map of Cape York and the Torres Strait islands on the playground, find Mer, then play a fast island-finding game across it.

How to run it

  1. Project or print a map of the Torres Strait, showing Cape York, Papua New Guinea and the island groups, with Mer (Murray Island) in the east.
  2. Working in teams, chalk the coastlines and main islands onto the playground at a large scale, with labels.
  3. Mark Mer with a star and talk about how far it is from Cape York and from where you are.
  4. Play a calling game: the educator calls an island or place and children run to stand on it.

You will need

  • chalk
  • printed or projected map of the Torres Strait
  • cones for reference points
Make it easier or harderYounger children colour sea and land areas; older children add the five island groups and a scale.
SafetyUse a map from an official source so island names and positions are accurate; check the playground for hazards and shade.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 2, Outcome 4Children build geographical knowledge of the Torres Strait and connect it to the Mabo story.

Fits these theme days

Mabo DayTorres Strait Islander CultureReconciliation WeekChalk FestivalAll About Australia Day

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