Learning and Teaching

Ballads in Year 5 and 6

This term in the Year 5 and 6 Community, the students are learning about Australian History. They have been reading information texts as well as studying the book Country Town.

As part of this book study, the students created ballads. As part of the learning, students learned about what ballads are and the structure of a ballad and studied The Man from Snowy River. 

They then went on to create their own ballads from the perspective of either a convict, a settler during the gold rush or an indigenous Australian. Check out some of the ballads below.

Convict Ballad by Lahanna

We’ve been at sea for days.

I’ve been hiding in my cell, I just need some space.

The sailors said we have neared land.

Now all I do down here is pace.

The ship started to slow down. 

All the sailors said to get off the ship.

We all began to exit our cells.

This is now a permanent trip. 

The Youngest Convict by Luke

All it was, was a loaf of bread

A loaf of bread that sent me here

On a boat with all these convicts

Convicts that make me shiver with fear

The soil is red like rust

And the trees pale and green

As we land on the solid ground

I spot a small unidentified animal drinking from a stream

The weight of the shackles pull me down

Under the harsh sun

Working from morning to night

Always being threatened by a gun

Ballad by Theo

As the ship sails,

Convicts and soldiers cry,

They left their homes behind,

And now their tears have gone dry.

Land finally approaches the ship

The soldiers cheer in delight

The journey has felt like a lifetime

But little did they know they were there for fright.

A Convict’s Migration by Ava 

The ship has sailed for many days,

and now on land we settle.

The anxiety starts to fade away,

but the soldiers are hard as metal.

They whip and whip,

as we step out of line.

I’ll be working,

working in the mine.

Crash, crash,

shining bright!

I’ve struck gold,

what a wonderful sight.

As I stare in awe,

a soldier stands behind me.

The gold is taken, STOLEN!

He smirks as I can see.

Poem by Jay

Up aboard a ship

Was a soldier at sea

Who hated convicts so much

Once he saw one, he started to flee!

He was excited to begin his new life

Even though he was sad to see his old one go

But that sadness disappeared

Because he saw his favourite crow from years ago!

Ballad by Holliday

This dusty ship has me stranded

Stuck in the middle, nowhere to be seen

I gaze out to the never ending sea

I just want land, I’m so keen

I must accept my fate

I seek land, the trees and skies

I feel a sudden regret

My friends and I split up, I say my goodbyes

As I step on the tall, itchy grass

The sun blinding me as I look up

Clearing the land is hard work, I can’t imagine doing this for another 20

At morning tea, I’m exhausted and overworked, I sip from my cup

 My days here are almost over, my body is sore and weak

I must obey by their rules, I don’t want any consequences

Days are going by slow, I keep pushing

My 20 years are over, no more of this nonsense

Convict Perspective Ballad by Valencya

Stranded at sea on a boat full of thieves 

Finding my way through a crowd very large

Stepping on board full of stress, no relief.

Loneliness and exhaustion, hunger we starve.

Convicts like me don’t know what to do.

We stand here because we stole blankets and shoes.

Soldiers guard us all around as we wave goodbye to our below crowd.

Time and time passes by, people of all sorts wave goodbye.

Children start screaming, home is their need.

It’s now been nine months, land is relief.

Just one dot of land could only mean one thing.

We jump off the boat, with nothing to bring.

Australia awaits, a new fresh start.

It’s our new home and we have to do our part.

Building takes place, all houses and stores. 

All there is left is hearing us roar.

Convict by Jax

 Stuck aboard a ship in the middle of the sea

 Can’t get out getting sent to somewhere new

 I’m not the only one on the ship

 Every single one of us just wants to spew 

 Almost there just want to scream

 I want to cry but I can’t I’m too sad

 Convicts young and old never gonna see home again

 Now I regret all I’ve done I feel bad

 We can see the land

 The boat has just docked

 Us convicts give a little cheer

 Our chains are finally unlocked.

Deborah Courtney

Director of Learning and Teaching