5/6FA - Learning 

Mr Anania

NEWSLETTER ITEM WEEK 11- TERM 2- 5/6 FA- 2025

During our literacy lessons in Term 2 students in 5/6FA have been reading the picture book FREE DIVING by Lorrae Coffin and illustrated by Bronwyn Houston.

FREE DIVING shows the glory of the ocean and the perils encountered by indigenous men and women free diving for Pearls during the late 19th Century in Broome Western Australia. 

While we read the book we found out that these Free Divers had no protective suits or air tanks, the crews were made up of Malay, Japanese and indigenous cultures and used a boat called a LUGGER to get them out to sea.

WE ALSO FOUND OUT THE FOLLOWING FACTS ABOUT PEARLS

• PEARLS are unique and beautiful gemstones found inside certain sea creatures called molluscs, including oysters and mussels.

   

• PEARLS  have been used for many purposes throughout history, most notably in jewellery.  Aboriginal people along the northern coast of Australia had been collecting pearl shells for many years and using them in their cultural practices.