Classroom News
What's Been Happening in Year 6
"Back in Time: Year 6's Sovereign Hill Experience"
Niamh 6A -
During a role play on the Eureka stockade, I was chosen to be Peter Lalor. Peter Lalor led the rebellion against mining licenses for the rights of miners. We got pretend rifles and I got to wear a funny top hat. It was really cool to put our hands up to pledge the Eureka Flag. By dressing up and being taught about the rebellion, it felt like we were right there.
Manuela - 6D
Sovereign Hill is where lots of people would go to mine for gold. You can still find it there today. We watched a man make a gold bar with a special type of volcanic rock with gold specks in it. He had to crush it to sand, boil it and mold it into a bar. I was chosen to hold the bar. It was so heavy I was surprised. There was a really cool display that showed us the very first few gold specks in Ballarat.
Chloe - 6B
We went to Sovereign Hill and got to pan for gold like we were in the 1850s. You get given a shovel and are instructed to sift through dirt and rocks until you find some gold. I wasn’t able to find any which was disappointing. After the gold panning, we walked through the old town and went into different shops. I bought some hard boiled lollies, some strawberries and cream and colourful fairy drops. We all got to share the different lollies around.
Noah 6C -
Sovereign Hill is very old and they pretend that they’re still in 1856 when the Gold Rush was happening. I tried to ask them modern questions but they wouldn’t break character. We all got to dress up. We dressed up as dodgy troopers, ladies with bonnets and raggedy miners. We got to roleplay the Eureka Stockade and I almost broke character because it was really funny watching everybody pretend to fight.
What's Been Happening in Year 2
Last week, our curious and enthusiastic Year 2 students launched their exciting new inquiry unit, Olden Days, with a special hands-on experience—a classroom museum!
Students entered their classrooms to find their rooms had been transformed into a mini exhibition space, complete with fascinating items from the past. The museums featured a range of olden day artifacts such as lanterns, irons, old cameras and phones, VHS tapes, coins/pennies, black and white photographs, Melways, doilies, and a vinyl record. We were most excited to see an old typewriter in action!
All of the items came with an information card detailing the item and how it was used, however before revealing these cards we asked the children to guess what the item was. It was interesting to find that they could guess the use of some of the items, however for others - they were stumped! The students were intrigued by the design and materials of each object and asked some fantastic questions about how people used them in everyday life.
After exploring the artifacts, students reflected on how these items compare to the technology and tools we use today. They discussed how lanterns have evolved into battery-powered torches and smart lights, how we now take digital photos with our phones instead of using film cameras, and how streaming services have replaced VHS tapes. Many were amazed that Melways used to help people find their way around —long before GPS and Google Maps.
This thoughtful comparison led to some rich conversations about change over time, innovation, and how people's needs have remained the same, even as the tools we use have changed dramatically.
We’re excited to continue exploring the past and discovering how life has transformed over the decades. Stay tuned for more adventures in our Olden Days unit!
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