Year Five/Six News 

Sovereign Hill Costumed School Experience

The Year 5/6 students reflected on an incredible learning experience during the Sovereign Hill Costumed School program. Immersing ourselves in the gold rush era allowed us to step into the lives of children from the 1850s and better understand what schooling and daily life were like during this time.

We took part in role-play activities where we followed strict school routines, used slate boards for writing, and experienced the expectations placed on students in the past. This helped us appreciate how different education was compared to today and deepened our understanding of historical perspectives.

One of the most memorable parts of the experience was panning for gold. This activity helped us realise how difficult and unpredictable life on the goldfields could be. We also watched a gold pouring demonstration, which showed us how gold is refined, and some students had the exciting opportunity to hold a gold brick worth over $600,000. Exploring the historic streets of Sovereign Hill, including the confectionery store, added to the authenticity of the day and was enjoyed by many students.

We were proud to receive positive feedback from Sovereign Hill staff, who commented on our respectful, courageous, and kind behaviour throughout the excursion. Overall, this experience helped us make strong connections between our classroom learning and real history, and it is something we will remember for a long time.