Men were very concerned with fashion and accessories in the 1850s, though perhaps not as much as their womenfolk. Clothing was a sign of one’s class and status in society; it could tell you about a man’s level of wealth, respectability and their occupation. But here in Victoria, as the gold rush was causing a shift in wealth and class, the distinction was not always so clear.
Posted in Sovereign Hill, Victorian Gold Rush
Tagged 1850s lifestyles, 1850s people, Fashion, gold rush
Yesterday The Age featured an article about History in the Australian Curriculum. Specifically they were referring to the decision not to make a specific Australian History subject part of the national curriculum in the Senior Years. Modern and Ancient History are the two subjects to be offered.
Front page of The Age – 10 July 2012
Posted in History Teaching, Sovereign Hill
Tagged history for kids, teaching history, teaching resources
This post should probably be called books for loving history, as this is a book not for teaching, but for enjoying. Although there is a fair chance some learning will happen amidst all the enjoying.
With winter school holidays upon us, what better time is there to curl up with a good book for yourself or to share with your children.
Earlier this year we wrote about our Eureka Day celebrations where students relived some of the events that led up to the stockade. Not all students have the opportunity to participate in an event such as this and so we wanted to share with students and teachers some other resources for finding out more about the Eureka rebellion and consider what caused the Eureka Stockade.
Posted in History Teaching, Victorian Gold Rush
Victorians, that is to say: those from the Victorian era, were very fond of proverbs. Short and sharp moral lessons or wise observations that could be shared easily and drilled firmly into the minds of children. Common proverbs from the 19th century can tell us a lot about the ideas, beliefs and daily lives of those who professed them.
We’d like to share with you 5 of our favourite proverbs that you would have likely heard during the gold rush days.
Posted in History Teaching, Victorian Gold Rush
Tagged 1850s lifestyles, colonial Australia, proverbs
Coming up this Wednesday 6th June, the planet Venus will cross in front of the sun. This phenomenon is known as the Transit of Venus and we are fortunate enough to be able to view it in Australia. This is a rare opportunity as the Transit only occurs twice in more than 100 years. It last occurred in June 2004 and after this week it will not be seen until December 2117!
Posted in History Teaching
Tagged colonial Australia, history of science, teaching history
This week is Education Week in Victoria. In the spirit of thinking about learning and learners we have written this post about some of the most common questions and misconceptions students bring to Sovereign Hill. Each day we work on developing students’ understandings about these concepts. Some are small, while others are very complex. It gives you an insight into common student thinking…
Posted in History Teaching, Sovereign Hill
Image by Sunday’s Child
Stuck for a great local history excursion? Historic cemeteries offer inquirers a number of insights into life in the past.
The key to a good cemetery excursion is providing the students with an investigative purpose or question. Visiting a cemetery without a purpose would be akin to browsing a database for leisure reading. However, with the right questions, a cemetery visit can provide students with opportunities to form their own understanding of key ideas such as demographics, social tensions, wealth and health.
Sovereign Hill Education Blog 