Exploring Early Australia Through Historical Inquiry

Exploring Early Australia Through Historical Inquiry

Developing Historical Questions Evaluating Sources Understanding the Past Years 7-8 Australian History

WALT - We Are Learning To

Develop focused historical inquiry questions about early Australian exploration Plan effective historical investigations using appropriate sources Evaluate primary and secondary sources for origin, purpose, and usefulness Reflect on how questions and sources shape our understanding of the past

What Makes a Good Historical Question?

Think about questions you might ask about early Australia Consider: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Should be clear, focused, and researchable

Broad vs Focused Questions

{"left":"Why did Europeans come to Australia?\nHow did Captain Cook's three voyages between 1768-1779 contribute to European mapping of the Pacific?\nWhat was life like for Aboriginal people?","right":"How did the Eora people's daily life change in the first five years after European settlement in Sydney Cove?\nWhat happened during exploration?\nWhat challenges did Burke and Wills face during their 1860-1861 expedition across Australia?"}

Question Development Workshop

Choose a topic about early Australia that interests you Write one broad question about your topic Now refine it into a focused, researchable question Use the question refinement worksheet Share with a partner for feedback

Types of Historical Sources

Evaluating Historical Sources

Origin: Who created this source and when? Purpose: Why was this source created? Usefulness: How does it help answer our question? Limitations: What are the gaps or biases?

Historical Thinking

"The past is never dead. It's not even past." - William Faulkner How do our questions and sources shape what we understand about early Australia? Reflection: What have you learned about asking good historical questions?