Famous Landmarks Exploration

Lesson Overview

Year Level: Year 1
Subject: History
Unit: Exploring Australia's Wonders (Lesson 4 of 10)
Curriculum Reference: Australian Curriculum – ACHASSK017: “The weather and seasons of places and the connection between these and the lives of people” & ACHASSK031: “The places people live in and belong to, their familiar features and why they are important”
Duration: 40 minutes
Class Size: 20 students

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Recognise famous Northern Territory landmarks including Uluru and Kakadu National Park.
• Understand the cultural and natural significance of these sites to Indigenous Australians.
• Create a mini-guidebook featuring key facts and illustrations of these landmarks.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes) – What's Special About the NT?

Engagement Strategy: Mystery Objects Box

• The teacher presents a box containing a small rock (to represent Uluru), a leaf or small branch (to represent Kakadu’s natural landscape), and a photo of Indigenous rock art.
• Students take turns pulling out objects, and the class makes guesses about what they could represent.

Teacher Questions:

• Have you heard of Uluru or Kakadu before?
• What do you think makes these places special?
• Who do you think has lived near these places for a long, long time?

Transition: “Let’s take a trip through the Northern Territory and explore two of its most famous places!”

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2. Exploration (15 minutes) – Virtual Tour Experience

**Activity: ** Virtual Journey through Uluru & Kakadu

• The teacher uses a slideshow or video with images of Uluru’s red rock at sunrise, waterfalls of Kakadu, and ancient Indigenous rock paintings.
• Students participate as ‘explorers’, listening to key facts while pretending they are real visitors.

Key Points to Cover:
👣 Uluru (Ayers Rock)

• A giant rock in the middle of Australia.
• Believed to be sacred by the Anangu People.
• Changes colour at different times of the day.

🌿 Kakadu National Park

• Home to animals like crocodiles and turtles.
• Famous for waterfalls, wetlands, and very old rock art.
• Cared for by Indigenous people who’ve lived there for thousands of years.

Interactive Element:
After each landmark, students turn to a partner and say one “Wow!” fact about the place.

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3. Creative Task (12 minutes) – Make a Mini-Guidebook

Materials:
📖 Small folded booklets (pre-prepared)
🖍️ Crayons, pencils, stickers
📸 Teacher-provided images students can glue in

Instructions:

• Each student creates a mini-guidebook with:
  • One drawing of Uluru or Kakadu.
  • One fun fact they learnt.
  • One sentence about why the place is special.

Examples:
🔹 “Uluru is big and red. It changes colours when the sun moves!”
🔹 “Kakadu has VERY old paintings on rocks!”

Differentiation:

• Students who need support can use sentence starters provided by the teacher.
• Students who finish early can share their books with a partner.

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4. Reflection (3 minutes) – Why Are These Places Important?

Class Discussion:

• “Why do you think Uluru is special to Aboriginal people?”
• “How should we look after special places like Kakadu?”
• “If you could visit either place, what would you want to see first?”

Exit Ticket:
Before leaving, each child shares:
📢 One thing they learnt OR ✋ One question they still have

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Assessment & Follow-Up

📌 Assessment (Informal):

• Observing student participation in the discussions.
• Reviewing students’ mini-guidebooks for understanding of key facts.

📌 Follow-Up Activities:
✔️ Display guidebooks on a classroom wall to create a ‘Class Travel Gallery’.
✔️ Introduce a future lesson on the topics of Indigenous land care and connection to Country.

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Teacher’s Notes & Extra Ideas

💡 Enhancements:

• Use a "Sounds of Australia" audio clip featuring bird calls and didgeridoo music to make the virtual tour more immersive.
• Bring in a large map of Australia so students can locate Uluru and Kakadu visually.

🌟 Extension for Curious Minds:

• Invite students to paint their own rock art on paper to connect to Indigenous storytelling traditions.

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This lesson taps into Year 1 curiosity with hands-on exploration, creativity, and a touch of adventure. By the end, students will feel more connected to Australia’s incredible natural landmarks while developing early research and visual storytelling skills.

🚀 Ready for your journey through NT’s wonders? Let’s get exploring!