The First Fleet unit

Overview: This unit is focused on the impact and effect the First Fleet had on the dail
and culture of the Indigenous Australians and the migrants.
Year Level: 5 and 6.
Links to curriculum:
Identify and describe patterns of continuity and change in daily life for Aboriginal an
Torres Strait Islander peoples, native born and migrants in the Australian colonies
(VCHHC085).
Explain the causes of significant events that shaped the Australian colonies, contrib
to Australian Federation and the effects of these on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isla
peoples and migrants (VCHHC086).
The social, economic and political causes and reasons for the establishment of Briti
colonies in Australia after 1800 (VCHHK088).
The nature of convict or colonial presence, including the factors that influenced cha
patterns of development, how the environment changed, and aspects of the daily li
the inhabitants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (VCHHK089)
The causes and the reasons why people migrated to Australia from Europe and Asia
the perspectives, experiences and contributions of a particular migrant group withi
colony (VCHHK091).
Understandings: Concepts:
- For more than 60,000 years, many clans of Aboriginal and Torres - First Fleet.
Strait Islander people have lived in Australia (Middleton, 1997). - Life of the Abo
- Aboriginal people are the oldest surviving culture in the world, people before a
having developed behaviours of managing their land and society after colonisatio
that are sustainable and ensure good health (Middleton, 1997). - The Aborigina
- The First Fleet arrived to Australia in 1788 at Sydney Cove Torres Strait Isla
(Reynolds, 1982). peoples lifestyl
-The colonisation of Europeans resulted in an influx of diseases, culture.
violence and conflict (Blyton, 2009). - The Apology.
- Prior to colonisation, there were approximately 700 Indigenous - The stolen
languages spoken throughout Australia and an estimated population generation.
of 750 000 Aboriginal people (Middleton, 1997). After colonisation,
approximately 10% of this population were alive (Middleton, 1997).
- History is retold from the perspective of the person retelling the
event.
-Two of the most notorious massacres of Aboriginal people in
Australias history are the Myall Creek Massacre and the Pinjarra
Massacre.
Rich question: What Contributing Questions: Vocabulary
impact did colonisation - What is the First Fleet? Aboriginal pe
have on the Indigenous - Why did the British colonise Torres Strait

Australians, the migrants Australia? Islander peo

Migrants.
and Australia today? - How did the Aboriginal and Torres Colonisation
Strait Islander people live before First Fleet.
colonisation? Terra nullius.

- What were the living conditions

like during colonisation?
- Why is it important to learn about
both the perspectives of the
Indigenous people and the migrants
when learning about the First Fleet?
Background notes:
Assessment tasks:
- Formative assessment: students progress will be assessed through the use of observ
anecdotal records and analysis of contributions to class discussions. The students will
assessed on their ability to explain the effects of colonisation on the culture and lives o
Indigenous people and the migrants; why the British colonised in Australia and the effe
European colonisation still has on the lives of the Indigenous people.
Timeline: students are to create a timeline of the Indigenous peoples history that b
prior to the European colonisation and up to today.
Models: in groups, students are to create two models, one that depicts the land bef
European colonisation and one that depicts the land after the European colonisation
students are to include a report of how the Indigenous people maintained their land
to colonisation; the resources they utilised for medicine; their diet and their spiritua
culture and beliefs. The students are to include another report regarding the effect
colonisation had on the Indigenous people and the land.
Learning intentions
Students will develop knowledge of the change and continuality in the Aboriginal an
 Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants daily lives after the European colonisat
Students will develop knowledge of the effects the European colonisation had on th
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples during the colonisation and till today.
Students will develop knowledge of the social, economic and political causes and re
for the European settlement in Australia.
Students will know that History is retold from the perspective of the person retelling
event.
Cultural protocols
- The viewing of images and the hearing of the voice of a deceased person is quite
confronting in the Indigenous peoples culture as it is seen as disturbing the deceased
persons spirit.
- Looking someone straight in the eye can be perceived as rude and disrespectful beha
- Traditional Welcomes should be incorporated into the opening of major internal or pu
events, meetings, forums and functions.Traditional Owners should be acknowledged a
event by the first speaker as a mark of respect for the owners of the land on which the
is taking place. Following acknowledgement of Traditional Owners, the first speaker at
forum should also separately acknowledge any Elders (past and present) who are in
attendance (Oxfam Australia, 2013).
Guidelines for terminology:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person or peoples.
The term Aboriginal does not include Torres Strait Islander people, and reference
be made to both if applicable.
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Indigenous and Elder all must begin with a capital
The word aboriginal refers to an Indigenous person from any part of the world an
to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: is a collective term for the original peop
Australia and their descendants.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: should be used in the context of a nat
formal category or to emphasise the diversity of languages, communities, cultural
practices and spiritual beliefs.
First Australians: is a collective term for the original people of Australia and their
descendants, and can be used to emphasise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island
Peoples lived In Australia prior to the European colonisation (Oxfam Australia, 2013
- Excursion: The Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Birdwood Avenue, Royal Botanic Garde
Melbourne. The tour includes a traditional smoking ceremony, a guided walk throug
important areas of the Gardens, discussion about the traditional uses for food, tools
medicine, and finishes with a refreshing cup of lemon myrtle tea.