This year our Early Years NAIDOC Bundle includes some wattleseed and a recipe card to make Aunty Tricia’s scones. Yum! If you haven’t tried wattleseed scones, give it a try - you will not regret it! 

Wattleseed comes from wattle trees and it is just one part of the tree that Aboriginal people have been using in food and medicine for thousands of years. Traditionally, the seeds, roots, bark and gums of wattle trees were used not only to flavour food but in medicines for a range of mild ailments such as soothing itchy skin or easing mild pain.

Today, the seeds get most of the attention and are increasingly recognised for their nutritional value - high-protein, low GI and a good source of several minerals - as well as their nutty coffee-like flavour. The smell as you walk past a kitchen with some wattleseed baked goods in the oven is amazing and hard to beat, but wattleseed can be used in a range of sweet and savoury dishes and even coffee. 

​Baking or cooking isn’t the only thing you can do with this amazing smelling and tasting spice! You might be looking for some ways to use up any leftover wattleseed from your NAIDOC pack and we have some ideas for you.

Here are 5 other ways you can use the wattleseed in early learning environments or classrooms.

Use Wattleseed as a Scent for Playdough
Using a basic playdough recipe add 1-2 tablespoons of ground wattleseed to the recipe. The addition of the wattleseed will give the playdough a unique scent, providing a multisensory experience for the students. They can explore both the texture and the scent of the playdough as they play.

Use Wattleseed for Sensory Art
Add wattleseed to paint to create a sensory art experience. Students can use their fingers or brushes and explore the texture of the wattleseed while creating their artwork.

Try Wattleseed Grinding
Experiment using different objects to grind whole wattleseed. You could use a mortar and pestle, rocks or stones or a spice grinder. Students can experience the transformation process and observe how both the texture and smell change. This activity also provides a great opportunity to talk about how Aboriginal people grind seeds using grinding stones. You might like to collect some photos of grinding stones to show children as you yarn. 

Make Wattleseed Energy Balls
In a food processor, blend dates, shredded coconut, honey and ground wattleseed. Students can roll the mixture into small balls. Let the energy balls set in the fridge, then students can experience the flavour of wattleseed in the delicious snack! 

Explore a Sensory Tray
Set up a tray filled with a variety of sensory materials for example feathers, rocks, pinecones, sticks, bark, native plants and wattleseed. You could even incorporate water or sand if you’re willing to get messy! Students can touch and explore the different textures and smell the variety of scents in the tray. Include ground and whole wattleseed so children can explore the difference. This is another activity that provides a great opportunity to talk about how Aboriginal people grind seeds using grinding stones. 

I’d love to hear about how you’re using wattleseed and what your children thought about the way it tastes, smells and feels.