First Contacts | Kamay Botany Bay EEC
Stage 2 - History
Location
Kamay Botany Bay EEC - Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
Overview
Explore the original landing site where James Cook landed in 1770 at Kurnell. Students will consider the traditional use of the land by the Aboriginal people and the meeting of two cultures in 1770. Visit the new sculptures and monuments located within the National Park. The activities will aim to stimulate students’ interest in and enjoyment of exploring the area, to develop a critical understanding of the past and its impact on the present.
First Contacts Google site
- HT2-3 describes people, events and actions related to world exploration and its effects
- HT2-4 describes and explains effects of British colonisation in Australia
- HT2-5 applies skills of historical inquiry and communication
- Why did James Cook make the journey?
- What was life like for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at Kamay Botany Bay before the arrival of James Cook?
- Why did Europeans settle in Australia?
- What was the nature and consequence of the meeting of two cultures?
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Sustainability
- Literacy
- Numeracy
To get the most out of the excursion to Kamay Botany Bay National Park, teachers and students are encouraged to:
- View the film clip Cook's arrival at Kamay: a Dharawal perspective (7:30mins)
- Explore the First Contacts google site
- Talk with their students about the confrontation between James Cook and the local Aboriginal men in 1770
- Create a See Think Wonder after viewing a photograph of the HMB Endeavour or the replica
Endeavour - Eight Days in Kamay
For a virtual tour of the Endeavour go to the Australian National Maritime Museum.
| 9:45-10:30 | Introduction, toilets & fruit break/recess |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Role play |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Monument and sculpture foreshore walk |
| 12:30 – 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 – 2:00 |
Burrawang walk Botanical drawings Aboriginal bush resources |
| 2:00 | Reflection on the learning and wrap up |
* There may be variations to timetable based on specific location, group size and weather
Students will:
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Investigate the first contact between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Europeans at Botany Bay.
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Participate in a role play to get students to understand the differences in two cultures.
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Learn about the daily life of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Europeans.
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Explore the natural bushland, shore and monuments.
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Consider the significance of this site for Australia's history.
Disclaimer: Students will participate in a role play to understand the first contact between James Cook and the local Aboriginal men in 1770. The role play contains some confrontational aspects and teachers may need to consider if any of their students would find this to be stressful. The re-enactment is based on primary sources in particular Joseph Banks’ journal.
"Knowledgeable and passionate teachers with great classroom management skills, the outdoors element, kids out in nature all day learning."
"Actually living and breathing what they have been learning about, moving through the learning experience physically, can't be beaten."
"All students came away learning something, whether it was learning how indigenous peoples interacted in their environment, timeline of events or remembering prominent names and figure heads."
"We enjoyed the whole day - the next day back at school, the kids were saying 'we wish we had another day at Kamay!'"