Stage 1 – History – Past and Present Family Life
Program Overview
Students will learn about similarities and differences in family life by comparing the present with the past. The students will be based at Scott’s Bay where they can explore the historical Scott’s Hut. Making things by hand is a theme with students using old tools, cooking damper in a campfire oven and sewing with a needle and thread. ‘Discovering old objects’ is a fun game that keeps the students guessing, and many old fashioned games are set up for the students to join in.
Key Questions
1. How has family life changed or remained the same over time?
2. How can we show that the present is different from or similar to the past?
Learning Experiences
Scott’s Hut – Exploring the Past at Bournda
Students explore the historical Scott’s Hut from the outside and discuss Mr Scott and what his life was like. Students examine old pictures and try to determine how Scott’s life may have been different or similar to theirs.
Students compare what items Mr Scott would have had in his house to the items that they have in their own houses. They look at kerosene lanterns and help to prepare the lanterns for lighting.
Old Tools – Making things by Hand
Students watch a demonstration of old tools in use and then each student can use appropriate old tools with assistance of teacher / BEEC staff.
Cooking and Sewing / Knitting
Students make and cook damper in an old camp oven on a camp fire or BBQ.
Students learn to sew with a needle and thread or students learn the art of finger knitting.
Guessing game – discovering old objects
Seven numbered stations are set up in the bush each with an ‘old’ object for the students to discover (candle snuffer, record, egg beaters, wooden pegs, flat iron, etc). Once the students have located the items they need to record what they think the item is and what it may have been used for on a laminated sheet. Students are encouraged to think about, and discuss with their group members what they think the item may have been used for. An old school bell is used to let the students know when it is time to try and find another item. Once all the items have been discovered students revisit the stations as a whole group and discuss each item and what we have today that replaces that item.
Old fashioned games
Students play a number of games that their parents or grandparents may have played including: marbles, elastics, knuckles, rolling the hoop, blind man’s bluff, tug of war, egg (ball) and spoon race, quoits.
Preparing for an Excursion
Post-visit material
Syllabus Outcomes
History K-6
HT1-1 communicates an understanding of change and continuity in family life using appropriate historical terms.
HT1-4 demonstrates skills of historical inquiry and communication.
History Content
- Differences in family structures and roles today, and how these have changed or remained the same over time (ACHHK028)
- Differences and similarities between students’ daily lives and life during their parents’ and grandparents’ childhoods, including family traditions, leisure time and communications (ACHHK030)
Students:
- investigate the roles of present family members and compare with the roles of earlier generations using a range of sources
- discuss similarities and differences from generation to generation, eg leisure activities and changes in technology/communications over time through a range of sources
- compare and contrast daily life with that of parents and grandparents at the same age
Historical concepts and skills
Continuity and change: some things change over time and others remain the same, eg changes and similarities in family life over time.
Cause and effect:events, decisions or developments in the past that produce later actions, results or effects, eg how everyday life has changed over time.
Perspectives: people from the past will have different views shaped by their experiences, ep different points of view about a significant person or site in the local area.
Differentiation for high potential and gifted students
Complexity – What if you had to build a road through the bush? Talk to a partner and come up with some of the challenges you might face. What tools or equipment might you have had available to solves some of your problems.
Higher order thinking – use De Bono’s ‘6 Thinking Hats’ to ask for a deeper analysis and justification of students’ responses to what it may have been like to build a road through the bush in the 1800’s.