8

Using Local Historical Sites in Teaching HSIE

Learning Experiences
Learning Sequence 1:

Artefacts, Resources and

web sites:

Have the students all together in

front of the smart board to
complete this activity with the
teacher. Students will be mapping
the region using Google maps (or
alternative ICT mapping
program ) with both Aboriginal
and Australian maps. This also
enables students to see major
landmarks within the area as well
as terrain, lakes, rivers, etc.
Think/ pair/share - have the
students working together to
explore the internet for resources
including demographics such as
population, age, gender, race,
religion, employment etc (teacher
will suggest websites and allocate
students specific tasks as well).
Question the students to gauge
what prior knowledge they have
of the region. Do they know about
who the original owners of the
land were? Do they know when
settlement took place? etc.
Discuss with the students (as a
whole group) the findings of the
mapping activity in relation to
Indigenous people and what
happened to those tribes. How
did 'white settlement impact their
lives? Have they relocated?
Where to?
Discuss with the students the
assignment/assessment task
which they are to complete based
on the unit. Thoroughly explain
the criteria and advise that all the
processes within the task will be
addressed throughout the unit,
e.g. timeline (following lesson),
etc.
Homework extension activity - go
out and visit local
libraries/museums to collect

Artefacts:
A range of artefacts used within
the gold rush period will be
brought into the classroom for
students to observe and complete
a corresponding worksheet activity
(see lesson 2/3).
Resources:
Smart board
Computer stations
Maps of the regions (Aboriginal and
Australian
Workbooks/paper
Stationary
Worksheet activity
Images/pictures (retrieved during
the unit)
Living and Working in Baw Baw Lifestyle *(Booklet available from
website - see below)

West Gippsland Official Visitor

Guide

*(Booklet available from website - see

below)

Discover Baw Baw Shire

*(Booklet available from website - see

below)

Baw Baw National Park - Visitors

Guide

*(Booklet available from website - see

below)

Baw Baw Statistical Profile

*(Booklet available from website - see

below)

Victoria's Heritage - Baw Baw

National Park

*(Booklet available from website - see

below)

Websites:
http://www.nma.gov.au/educationkids/
classroom_learning/multimedia/intera
ct
ives/gold-rush

Using Local Historical Sites in Teaching HSIE

information and resources for

assessment task.

Learning Sequence 2:
For the first few minutes of class
question the students about the
previous lesson to see what
information they have
remembered. Also ask them if
they were able to source further
information in relation to their
assessment task.
Have the students in front of the
board and create a mind map to
assess what the students already
know about the gold rush period
in Australia's history.
Discuss with the students the
gold rush in relation to the local
area of Baw Baw and the impact
it had upon settlement within the
region. (add new and additional
information to the mind map).
Have students pair up and play
online game about the gold rush
period. This game should also
assist students when they
complete the worksheet activity.
(Based on the Ballarat gold rush
period although concepts are the
same).
As a class construct a timeline of
the area using the research done
by the students on a lone piece of
paper mounted on the board.
Select students to come up and
fill in the information. Extend on
this activity by having students
complete the collage.
The students will then observe a
number of artefacts brought into
the classroom and complete a
corresponding worksheet activity
(based on gold rush period).

Learning Sequence 3:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps
http://profile.id.com.au/baw-baw/
http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/
map-aboriginal-australia
http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/H
ome
http://docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc
/
2BA2D159998946DACA257879000DD
361
/$FILE/Baw%20Baw%20Statistical
%20Profile.
pdf
http://www.visitvictoria.com/RegionsGi
pps
land/Activities-andattractions/Aboriginal-Victoria.aspx
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~kurnai/abo
utus.
htm
http://www.discovereastgippsland.co
m.au
/artsculture_indigenous.asp
http://www.jindi.com.au/index.html
http://www.mountbawbaw.com.au/
http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/fil
es/
8ba5ffc7-6c02-4913-900a9fe10098e699/
Living_and_working_in_Baw
_Baw_Lifestyle.pdf
http://www.a4de.com/resources/comm
on/
libexec/file.php?file=7

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Using Local Historical Sites in Teaching HSIE

This final lesson is based out of

the classroom as a field
trip/excursion.
Students will explore the historic
township of Walhalla including
some buildings and amenities
which have been restored to their
original state such as the Old
Walhalla Post and Telegraph
Office and the Chinese Gardens
(established by the Chinese
during the gold rush).
Students will also take a 45
minute tour of the long tunnel
goldmine (the 5th largest gold
mine in Victoria's gold rush
period) where the old mining
methods are explained in addition
to other features of the mine.
Lastly students will complete the
Walhalla Tramline Walkway, a
walk which follows an old timber
tramline offering views of gold
mines, historic points and also
abundance of flora and fauna.

http://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/fil
es/
cc271062-b810-4ffc-9b5ea08900f27e55/
Discover_Baw_Baw_Shire.pdf
http://www.gippslandinfo.com.au/imag
es/
gipps/Baw-Baw.pdf
http://docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc
/
2BA2D159998946DACA257879000DD
361/
$FILE/Baw%20Baw%20Statistical
%20Profile.pdf
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/asset
s/pdf_
file/0017/313181/22_2158.pdf

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Using Local Historical Sites in Teaching HSIE