History
Concepts for developing understanding
The content in the history sub-strand provides opportunities for students to develop historical understanding through key concepts including sources, continuity and change, cause and effect, perspectives, empathy and significance. The Year 4 curriculum introduces world history and the movement of peoples. Students study the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their connection to place (sources, perspectives, significance) and their contact with other societies (change and continuity, perspectives, empathy). Through a study of navigation, exploration and/or trade (sources), students come to learn about Australia's early colonisation and develop understandings about contact between societies (continuity and change, cause and effect) and its effects on people and their environments (perspectives, empathy).
Inquiry Questions
- Why did the great journeys of exploration occur?
- What was life like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples before the arrival of the Europeans?
- Why did the Europeans settle in Australia?
- What was the nature and consequence of contact between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and early traders, explorers and settlers?
(source: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au)
- Free Plan
Australian Place Name Origins Worksheet
A worksheet exploring the connection of Australian place names to First Nations languages.
- Plus Plan
The First Fleet PowerPoint
A 15 slide editable PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching students about the First Fleet.
- Plus Plan
A British Penal Colony - Teaching Slides
A 25 slide editable PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching students about the British colonisation of Australia.
- Plus Plan
An Introduction to Aboriginal Art PowerPoint
A 54 slide editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when learning about Aboriginal art.
- Free Plan
Convict Identification Cards - Template
A convict identification card template to use in the classroom when learning about the convicts of the First Fleet.
- Free Plan
Acknowledgement of Country Poster
A simple Acknowledgement of Country poster to display in your classroom.
- Plus Plan
Impacts of Colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Posters
Posters highlighting the main impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Plus Plan
Original Inhabitants PowerPoint
A 43 slide editable PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching students about the original inhabitants of Australia.
- Plus Plan
Dreaming Stories - Multiple Intelligence Activities
A Multiple Intelligence activity planner to use in the classroom when learning about Dreaming Stories.
- Free Plan
Life as a Convict - Journal Writing Task
A journal writing worksheet for students to complete in the classroom, or as a homework task, when learning about convicts.
- Plus Plan
First Fleet - Inquiry Task
An inquiry-based assessment task for students to demonstrate their understanding of the people impacted by the First Fleet.
- Free Plan
Ships of the First Fleet - Writing Templates
A set of 3 ship templates to use in the classroom when learning about the ships of the First Fleet.
- Free Plan
Timeline of James Cook's First Voyage on the Endeavour
A historical timeline to display in the classroom when learning about James Cook's voyage to Australia.
- Plus Plan
Significant Individuals During Colonisation/Invasion Poster Set
Explore this collection of 9 posters with your Grade 4 HASS students, when learning about impactful persons during the period of colonisation, or invasion, in Australia.
- Plus Plan
Why Teach About Aboriginal Astronomy? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about Aboriginal astronomy.
- Free Plan
I Am Sorry – Poem and Discussion Questions
A poem to promote thoughtful discussion around issues of reconciliation on National Sorry Day.
- Plus Plan
Australian Convict Life Posters
5 posters highlighting information regarding the lives of convicts in Australia.
- Plus Plan
The Story of Gulaga - Comprehension and Activity Worksheet
A comprehension and linked activity based on an Aboriginal Dreaming Story.
- Free Plan
Early Explorers - Inquiry Task
An inquiry-based assessment task for students to demonstrate their understanding of early explorers and the impacts they had on other societies.
- Plus Plan
Australian Convicts Timeline
A timeline showing the progression of convict colonisation in Australia.
- Plus Plan
The Natural Environment of Africa - Inquiry Task
An inquiry task focusing on the natural environment of the grasslands of Africa.
- Plus Plan
Fifteenth Century Chinese Ship - Model Building Activity
A 15th-Century Chinese model ship building task to create in the classroom when learning about Chinese explorers.
- Plus Plan
Why Teach About Aboriginal Customs? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about Aboriginal customs.
- Plus Plan
Early Explorer Profiles - Abel Tasman, James Cook and Willem Janszoon
Three individual posters showing the expeditions of Abel Tasman, James Cook and Willem Janszoon.
- Plus Plan
Significant Explorers of Australia - Captain James Cook
A poster to display in the classroom when learning about Captain James Cook.
- Plus Plan
Captain James Cook and the Endeavour — Teaching Slides
Discover the journey of Captain James Cook on the HMS Endeavour with your students with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
British Colonisation of Australia - Crossword
A crossword activity to use in the classroom when learning about the British Colonisation of Australia.
- Plus Plan
British Colonisation of Australia - Cloze Activity
A cloze activity to use in the classroom when learning about the British Colonisation of Australia.
- Plus Plan
Timeline of the First Fleet's Journey to Australia - Banner
A four-page timeline of the history of the voyage of the First Fleet.
- Free Plan
An Early Explorer's Map
An early explorer's map to display in the classroom when learning about European exploration.
- Plus Plan
Early Explorers PowerPoint
A 25 slide editable PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching students about the early explorers of Australia.
- Plus Plan
Waste Management Investigation - How Much Waste Do We Throw Away?
A practical investigation related to sustainable waste management.