Museums in Motion

Catalysts for Change

Rationale

We can better understand who we are by learning about the events and people who shaped our country.

Investigation Into

  • Events that shaped early Australia.
  • People who shaped early Australia.
  • Using the internet to research.
  • Planning, designing and constructing a diorama.
  • Performing as a historical character.

Essential Questions

  • What were the events or discoveries that shaped early Australia?
  • Who shaped early Australia?
  • How can we use the internet to research?
  • How can we plan, design and construct a diorama?
  • How can we perform as a historical character?

Future Action

Your students will consider changes in their life in the context of history. They will be motivated by the people who shaped early Australia and apply the lessons that they learnt from studying their lives. Students will use what they have learnt about the diverse origins of immigrants to Australia as they participate in conversations about our history. They will develop respect for cultures different from their own. Students will develop an ability to present information and perform in front of groups.

Pretesting and Familiarisation (7 tasks)
The Concept Of Change
Your students will be immersed into the concept of change as they use a Ripple Effect Diagram to make possible changes that may occur as a result of an action.
 
Pretest
Your students will complete a pretest about how to research information online.
 
Immersion
Your students will consider the lyrics of an Australian ballad to gain an insight into life in early colonial life in Australia.
 
Introducing The Unit
Your students will learn what they are going to do in this learning sequence.
 
Glossary Of Change
Your students will learn the glossary for this learning sequence.
 
Habit of Mind: Questioning and Posing Problems
Your students will practise the habit of questioning and posing problems.
 
Habit of Mind: Gathering Data Through All Senses
Your students will learn about the habit of gathering data through all of the senses as they make damper.
 
Learning Opportunities (13 tasks)
Events: Researching An Event
Your students will work in pairs to research an event in Australian history.
 
Events: Planning Our Diorama
Your students will work in pairs to plan and design a diorama and consider the materials and tools that they need to build it.
 
Events: Constructing Our Diorama
Your students will work in pairs to construct their diorama.
 
Events: Recording Audio
Your students will use a recording device to record a conversation and background sounds to accompany the event depicted in their diorama.
 
Events: Reflecting On Events
Your students will learn about different events that shaped Australia as they study each diorama and listen to each recording.
 
Australian Immigration
Your students will learn about the history of immigration to Australia.
 
Influential People: Researching An Influential Person
Your students will research a person who helped to shape early Australia.
 
Habits In Early Australia
Your students will reflect on the habits of mind that might have assisted those living in early Australia.
 
Influential People: Practising My Performance
Your students will practise performing as the influential person that they researched.
 
Influential People: Preparing My Presentation
Your students will prepare an oral presentation about the influential person that they researched.
 
Influential People: Delivering My Presentation
Your students will deliver their presentation to other students in their group.
 
Influential People: Developing Questions To Answer
Your students will generate questions for visitors to ask during Opening Night.
 
Rehearsing For Opening Night
Your students will rehearse for Opening Night.
 
Demonstration of Understanding (1 tasks)
Opening Night
Your students will display their diorama and audio recording, and perform as the influential person that they researched.
 
Future Action and Independent Inquiry (3 tasks)
Future Action
Your students will reflect on what they have learnt about the concept of Change and how they can be proactive when facilitating changes in their own lives.
 
Planning An Independent Inquiry
Your students will plan an inquiry into an aspect of this unit that they would like to learn more about.
 
Conducting An Independent Inquiry
Your students will practise the skills of questioning, research and working independently as they conduct an inquiry into a topic that they have learnt about during this unit.