Stage 2 history
Location
Kamay Botany Bay EEC
Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell
Outcomes
- 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
Key Inquiry Questions
- 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?
Students will
- Investigate the first contact between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Europeans at Botany Bay.
- Participate in a role play to get students to understand the differences in two cultures.
- Learn about the daily life of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Europeans.
- Explore the natural bushland, shore and monuments.
- Consider the significance of this site for Australia's history.
Learning across the curriculum content
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- Sustainability
- Literacy
- Numeracy
View First Contacts excursion outline
Before the excursion
To get the most out of the excursion to Kamay Botany Bay National Park, teachers and students are encouraged to:
Google site First Contacts developed for students by EEC staff
Distance Learning module for Stage 2 First Contacts
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.
Supplementary resources
Endeavour - Eight Days in Kamay
For a virtual tour of the Endeavour go to the Australian National Maritime Museum.
