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Australian Outcomes:!
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Grade 5B Australian Gold Rush !

(ACHHK080) The nature of contact between Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Islanders
and others, for example, the Macassans and the Europeans, and the effects of these
interactions on, for example families and the environment.!
(ACHHS083) Pose a range of questions about the past.!
(ACHHS085) Identify different points of view.!
(ACHHS087) Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital
technologies.!

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Rationale:!
The Australian Gold Rush was a period of great and dramatic change. It is important for
students to explore and review the impact of these changes on Australian society during the
new colonies. Additionally, it is important to review the impact of the Gold Rush on the lives of
Indigenous people. !

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Resources:!
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Videos: !
An internal exploration in Colonial Australia!
Investigating the changing population!
Life on the Gold Fields!
Life for Chinese miners!
Miners Role Play and Lambing Flat Riot.!

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Material Resources:!
Graphic Organiser fro Question Types!
Statement Checklist for European/Chinese Miner !
Internet - Sites on Indigenous people on the Gold Fields!

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Activities:!
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Orientation: !
1) Discuss the word significant !
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- in groups match the significant events up with explanations !
2) Watch the video An internal exploration in Colonial Australia, pair and share the significance
of the exploration. !
3) How do we learn about the past: historical inquiry: Watch video on ways to inquire in history:!
4) Explore Question Types of questions posed in historical inquiry. !
5) Use pictures to help construct questions fort inquiry. !
6) Construct a timeline of where and when gold was discovered in Australia!

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Enhancing:!

7) Word Investigation - Migration!

8) Explore the causes and effects of the Gold Rush Migration!
9) Create cause-event-effect flow charts for The Australian Gold Rushes!
10) Watch Investigating the changing population: write own questions based upon the types of
historical inquiry questions: recall, naming questions, observation empathetic questions, and
reasoning questions using the video as a stimulus. Provide graphic organizers of words to
assist. !
11) Watch video - Life on the Gold Fields - Create t chart to show how lives may have changes!
for women/children/Indigenous !
12) In groups create and explore what life was like after the gold rush under the topics of food/
shelter/income/family/social experiences !
13) Investigate aboriginal people and the effects of the gold rush, emphasis the loss of land and
culture. Use internet resources to help construct knowledge.!
14) Chinese people on the Gold Fields!
Watch video on Life for Chinese miners complete statement checklist. Tick if the statement
refers to the European or Chinese miner!
15) Perspectives to Chinese miners, use two artifacts to create what perspectives were like. !
16) Watch Miners Role Play and Lambing Flat Riot. !
Examine the impact of Chinese migration.!
17) Explore the social, economic and political impact of the Gold Rush by discussing the event. !
18) Discuss the social, economic and political causes and effects of the Gold Rush in a flow
chart.!
19) Significant Person - Investigate the role played by Governor La Trobe. Student choice on
how the present their findings.!
20) The Eureka Stockade!
What events lead to the Eureka Stockade - examine Slideshow!
Create a timeline of the !

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Synthesizing/Assessment!
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21) Students create a concept map of the Gold Rush to demonstrate their knowledge,
connections and links. !
22) In groups, students create a drama skit to highlight their understanding of issues and events
on the Gold Fields. !