HASS 4.3 bundle: Origins of Australia

Description

Bundle containing all components of HASS/Science Year 4 unit 4.3

Teacher handbook with complete lesson plans, curriculum mapping and assessment guide, student workbook and model answers, plus all the resource PDFs for

• HASS + Science: Understanding Our World
• Year 4 Unit 4.3: “Origins of Australia”
• Minimum time allocation of one hour per week. Extensions are provided for up to 2.5 hours a week.

This unit investigates Australia from the Ice Age to the mid-19th century. The Aboriginal settlement of Australia and the impact of European colonialism are key foci of this unit. Students examine the different perspectives on the arrival of Europeans as experienced by Aboriginal people, the European convicts, settlers and colonial authorities. The changes to the Australian environment after European settlement are also covered briefly. Australia’s interactions with other nations in the period up to the 19th century is also covered in this unit. Students will undertake a guided Scientific Investigation to examine an aspect of life in Australia in the 19th century. The Scientific Investigation will introduce students to the Scientific Process and how conclusions are drawn from examinations of data. Students will use this process to undertake a research project on a relevant theme.

A student workbook is also provided for the students to fill in during this unit. This workbook, as well as the research project, students’ discussions in class and participation in the activities, forms the assessment for this unit.

Multi-Year Level Integration

This unit is compatible with the Unit 5.3 The Colonial Experience In Australia. It can also be combined with Unit 6.3 Young Australia. These units cover much of the same material and have the same activities occurring in the same weeks. There is a slight difference in focus, with Unit 6.3 focussing on the 19th and 20th centuries, Unit 5.3 on the colonial period of the 19th century and Unit 4.3 focussing on Australia in the period immediately before and during colonisation. These differences can be addressed by each year level working through the resources appropriate to their area of focus, whilst general resources can be used for all three units. The differences are reflected in the student workbooks, with students focussing their research project on a year-level appropriate theme.

The research themes for Units 4.3 and 5.3 overlap, making it easier for teachers in a multi-year level class to present relevant information to the students. Independent learners can be allocated to distinct research topics, whilst students requiring more assistance can be allocated to overlapping research topics, with the teacher assisting these students to process the information provided. Alternately, year 4 and 5 students can work together on overlapping themes, assisting each other.