Inland Explorers

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Teaching and Learning Proforma -
INLAND EXPLORERS

(Big idea - The first settlers saw the need to explore the interior of the colony.)

Intended Outcomes:

Children will -

Focus on the gradual exploration and the opening up of the colony.
Find important names in Australian Inland Exploration.
Discover the benefits of the explorers work to the settlers.
Discover how the explorers dealt with the harsh environment and obstacles.
Find out about the relationship between each explorer and the Aboriginal tribes they encountered.
Collect, analyse and organise information.
Use co-operative means to bring research together in an organised manner.
Access appropriate data to support historic research from computer, encyclopedias, etc

Engaging students:

It is assumed that children already have a knowledge of the convict era and the needs and requirements of the new settlers.

Children will be asked why they think it was important to open up the colony. Children will need to be familiar with the geographical structure of Australia and have an have acceptable concept of direction. The growth of the population meant people needed more land for farming and housing.

It will also have to be explained that the first settlers knew nothing about the interior of Australia.

Refining (students’ questions, ideas and teacher’s intentions):

It will be established that the most important years of Australian inland discovery were from 1813 to 1875. Children will be asked if they know the names of any of Australia's early inland explorers.

Extending:

Each child will be given an inland explorer to research.

Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth; Hume and Hovell; Charles Sturt; Thomas Mitchell; Edward John Eyre; Ludwig Leichhardt; Burke and Wills; John Oxley; John Forrest, Earnest Giles; John McDouall Stuart; John Kennedy.

What is the background of the man you are studying? Where was he from? What was his occupation?
Why did he explore in the places he did? Was he asked by the government? Was it his own idea? Could he benefit financially be exploring this region?
How large was his party and who did he take with him?
Where did his expedition go?
Had anyone else apart from the Aborigines been in that area before?
What did he expect or hope to find?
Was he trying to prove or disprove anything?
What hardships did he encounter on his journey?
What interesting discoveries did he make on his way?
What sort of relationship did he have with the natives?
In your opinion do you think his exploration was a success?
What benefit did his exploration have for the colony? Did it open up new land for grazing?
Form your own opinion based upon what you have read about the following questions:
a) What sort of person do you think he was?
b) How valuable do you think his explorations were?
c) What did you think of his attitude to the aborigines?
When you are detailing where the explorers went don't forget to point out what is at these places today? Mark their trips on a map.

All Children will complete activities on Developing the Settlement (Social Studies 6) to help get a general understanding of what each of the explorers achieved.

Blackline Masters on Australian Explorers Activities also to be completed.

Wordsearch in Australian Studies.

Reflecting on what we have learnt

Children's projects will be displayed and discussed. Children will show on a map of Australia what their explorer achieved.

Teaching Resources:

Haigh, Isabel Australian Explorers Activities The Macmillan Company of Australia Pty Ltd South Melbourne 1983
Harrold, Jenni and Bartley, Sue Social Studies 6 RIC Publications Pty Ltd 1990

Australian Studies RIC Publications Pty Ltd Greenwood Wa 1994

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