Historical Figures Teaching Resources
Expand your students' knowledge of famous historical figures from Australian history and from around the world with biographical teaching resources created by teachers for teachers.
Explore the real-life experiences of politicians, inventors, social activism leaders, explorers, and other famous people from history with writing activities about influential figures, biographical worksheets, constructed responses, crossword puzzles and more explorations into the lives of some of history's best-known figures.
Is this your first year incorporating historical figures into a lesson plan? Or maybe you're just looking for a refresher? Take a peek at a primer from our teacher team, including a list of some of the many important historical figures featured in this collection.
Why Is It Important to Learn About Historical Figures?
When students learn about the various historical figures who have made a mark in the nation's and world's history, they develop a better understanding of the relationships between individual people and society as a whole.
Learning about famous people from throughout history also helps our students connect to the past as they look at history through the lens of real-life experiences.
Famous Historical Figures in This Collection
This collection of teaching resources includes activities, instructional slide decks, and more educational resources to help students learn about important figures from the colonisation era to more modern times, including:
- Alfred Deakin
- Edmund Barton
- Peter Lalor
- Louise Mack
- Edward Hargraves
- James Cook
- Cathy Freeman
- Abel Tasman
- And many, many more
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Why Teach About Oodgeroo Noonuccal? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about notable Aboriginal woman, Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
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Why Teach About David Unaipon? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about David Unaipon.
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Why Teach About Cathy Freeman? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about notable Aboriginal woman, Cathy Freeman.
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My Research Project - Pennant Banner
A pennant banner template for students to record biography research.
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Early Explorer Profiles - Abel Tasman, James Cook and Willem Janszoon
Three individual posters showing the expeditions of Abel Tasman, James Cook and Willem Janszoon.
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Significant First Nations Australians – Fact Sheets
A set of 12 fact sheets about significant First Nations Australians, with an accompanying worksheet.
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Significant Women of Australia's Colonisation Fact Sheets
4 profile posters to display and use in the classroom when learning about significant women in Australia.
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The Journal of James Cook - Writing Task
A journal writing task for students to investigate James Cook's voyage to Australia in the first person.
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Significant Explorers of Australia - Captain James Cook
A poster to display in the classroom when learning about Captain James Cook.
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Captain Cook Word Wall
A vocabulary word wall to display and use in the classroom when learning about the explorations of Captain James Cook.
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Sir Edmund Barton Profile
A profile of Australia's first Prime Minister.
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Kelly Gang Wanted Posters
Wanted posters providing information about each member of the infamous Kelly Gang.
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Poster Profile - Professor Stephen Hawking
A profile about English Professor Stephen Hawking.
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Early Explorers Assessment Task
An inquiry-based assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of the Age of Exploration and how the journeys of explorers impacted upon other societies.
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Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch Explorers
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify how the Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch explorers contributed to the European 'discovery' of Australia.