The Rocks Site Study is a S4/5 History site study that focuses on content from the Stage 4 Depth Study 6d: Aboriginal and Indigenous Peoples, Colonisation and Contact, and the Stage 5 Depth Study 1b The movement of peoples. The Site Study is an inquiry-based examination of historically significant locations and is integrated with topic content as a way for students to acquire History knowledge, skills, values and attitudes from experience in the field. The study enables students to understand their historical environment, actively participate in historical inquiry, interpret the past and recognise how human occupation and use of the sites has changed over time. The study will enhance understanding of the historical context in which changes have occurred and help to create and nurture a lifelong interest in history.
Program location
The Rocks and Millers Point.
View the Google Site Study map with approximate walking route, meeting location and pick up location.
Key syllabus Outcomes
- selects and analyses a range of historical sources to locate information relevant to an historical inquiry
- describes key aspects of contact between indigenous people and colonisers
- describes and assesses the life of one Aboriginal individual in contact with the British colonisers
- uses a variety of sources to investigate and report on the changing way of life of a convict, emancipists or free settler.
Integrating the ‘Sustainability’ Cross Curriculum Priority is a feature of the program.
Skills outcomes
- develop skills to undertake the process of historical inquiry using an inquiry-based examination of historically significant locations and people
- develop ICT skills
Student pre-visit and follow up activities
Successful excursions have direct links to current classroom learning. Pre-visit activities carried out prior to the excursion will help students better understand their excursion content and provide connectedness and relevance to classroom learning.
Have students visit the Student Support Webite provided on booking, and complete any pre fieldwork activities to familiarise them with the study area.
On the day activities
During the full day Site Study, students will:
- recap on prior learning about the study sites, and learn how to construct a field journal on Ipads
- use Ipads to complete an historical enquiry, and create a digital field journal, about significant people and locations relevant to the topic
- visit the Rocks Discovery Museum to learn about local indigenous people, colonisation and contact history
- visit archaeological sites and view artefacts in The Rocks, Millers Point and Dawes Point to investigate the life of Gadigal Aboriginal people, convicts and free settlers, and their impact on the development of the Australian Nation.
Cost
- Government Schools: $15 per student (GST Free)
- Non-Government Schools: $25 per student (GST free). Minimum cost of $600.