Classroom Connection

What's happening in the 5/6?

What a fantastic start to Term 2 in our Grade 5/6 classrooms! This week, students launched into their new inquiry unit, Australian History: Influential People and Changes Over Time (1800–2000) — and the engagement in learning has been wonderful to see. 

Diving into the Past

To kick off the unit, students were introduced to the big questions that will guide their learning over the coming weeks: Who shaped Australia? What changed, and why? And how do the events of the past connect to our lives today? These questions sparked some brilliant conversations, with students already sharing what they know — and what they’re curious to find out.

A Focus on a Decade

Students were given a specific decade from Australia's rich 200-year history to explore key events that occurred. From the Gold Rush era of the 1850s to the social transformations of the 1970s, students investigated the key events, significant figures, and major changes that defined their time. 

Building the Class Timeline

One of the highlights of the lesson was our collaborative timeline activity. After completing their decade research, students came together to share their findings and place their key events onto a large class timeline spanning 1800 to 2000. They began to see how one era connects to the next, and how change rarely happens overnight.

What's Coming Next

This is just the beginning! Over the coming weeks, students will continue to deepen their understanding by exploring cause and effect, examining different perspectives, and considering the impact of historical decisions on modern Australia. 

We can't wait to see where this inquiry takes us! 

Coming up this term. Stay tuned!