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)
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The Natural Environment of South America — Inquiry Task
An inquiry task focusing on the natural environment of the Amazon rainforest in South America.
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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.
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Classroom Energy Audit Worksheet
An investigation that will have students observing the energy usage in their classroom and proposing action to reduce energy waste.
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Celebrations Around The World Inquiry Task
A four page inquiry task, assessing students' knowledge of cultural celebrations from around the world.
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Commonwealth Games Timeline Activity
A template and classroom display banner to create a Commonwealth Games Timeline.
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Water Wastage Investigation - How Much Water is Lost to Leaks?
A practical investigation related to sustainable resource use.
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British Colonisation of Australia - Teaching Resource Pack
A resource pack containing a range of posters, worksheets and activities to use in your classroom when teaching a unit of work on the British Colonisation of Australia.
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NAIDOC Week Teaching Resource Pack
An extensive collection of teaching resources to use during NAIDOC Week.
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Celebrations Around The World Unit Plan
This Humanities and Social Sciences unit addresses the topic of celebrations. It covers personal, family and community celebrations; national days; Australia-specific commemorations and religious/cultural celebrations from around the world.
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The First Fleet and the British Colonisation of Australia Unit Plan
This History unit covers a range of concepts relating to the stories of the First Fleet; including reasons for the journey, who travelled to Australia, their experiences following arrival and the impact colonisation had on Indigenous Australians.
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Australia's First People Unit Plan
This History unit covers a range of concepts relating to the diversity of Australia's first people and the long and continuous connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country.
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Our Place - Australia Unit Plan
This Humanities and Social Sciences unit addresses a range of concepts relating to the natural and human features of Australia.
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Sustaining Our World Unit Plan
This Geography unit addresses concepts surrounding the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
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Aboriginal Bark Paintings
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal bark paintings.
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Occupations and Sustainability in Technologies Unit Plan
This Technology unit has been designed to investigate the role that technology plays in occupations within the community. Additionally, it introduces and explores the concept of sustainability.
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An Introduction to Aboriginal Art
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the different types of Aboriginal art in Australia.
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The Original Inhabitants
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of Australia.
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Life in Britain During the 1700s
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate life in Britain during the late 1700s.
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Indigenous Language Groups
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the diverse range of Indigenous language groups in Australia.
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The Age of Exploration, Discovery and Expansion Unit Plan
This History unit covers a range of concepts relating to the early explorers of the Age of Exploration and the 'discovery' of Australia.
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Impact of Colonisation on Australia's First Peoples
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify the impact a British colony had on the First Nations people of Australia.
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Aboriginal Sand Drawings
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal sand drawings.
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Aboriginal Rock Art
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal rock art.
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Celebrations Inquiry Task - Presenting
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Aboriginal Dot Painting
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal dot painting.
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Convict Life
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the life of a convict transported to Australia.
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Aboriginal Wandjina Artworks
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal Wandjina artworks.
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Aboriginal Body Painting
A 60 minute lesson in which students will understand the history and traditional techniques of Aboriginal body painting.
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James Cook and His Voyage to Australia
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate the significance of James Cook's voyage to Australia.
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Art
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify how Aboriginalcultures use art as a language to document their history.
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Tools
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples used the land to make tools.
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Food
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples sourced their food from the land.