Using This Resource
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this resource contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive, including the records of people who have passed away.
This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: HASS for Year 5 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills as historians. The resource engages students with a rich selection of historical sources and challenges them to draw their own conclusions about the development of the Australian colonies. The resource highlights indigenous experiences, the role played by significant individuals, convict experiences, daily life in the colonies and the reasons for migration to Australia. The resource also features significant colonial events such as the gold rush in Victoria, the Eureka Stockade and the Burke and Wills expedition, as well as frontier conflict.
The resource gives teachers flexibility. Activities are provided to focus students on key historical people and events that were significant in the development of the colonies. The highlight of the resource is the selection of sources from the National Library of Australia’s Treasures Gallery. Each of the seven key sources introduces a theme. The student activities that support the sources cater for a variety of classroom contexts and learning styles. Teachers can explore all seven themes, or choose specific themes to meet their teaching and learning objectives.
