This term we have been learning about the Gold Rush. This was a very fun topic, but also a very big and important one. I have learnt so much this unit, that this blog post could go on FOREVER!! I really loved this unit. I learnt heaps, from when we started to now. 

I remember before we started this topic we were given a piece of paper and it had one question on it; What do you know about the Eureka Stockade? I was completely confused, and then finally, I wrote the one thing I knew about the 1850’s; Things weren’t fair. That was pretty much the only piece of information I knew about the 1850’s. If I was given that sheet now, I think I would need another one! 

Life in the 1850’s was tough. There was fighting, shooting and a lot of violence. It was extremely hard for children in particular. Watching the violence, or even hearing it would be so hard. Things weren’t fair back then, like people could only vote if their land was worth at least £100, women weren’t allowed to vote, women weren’t allowed to mine, and a very strict rule was if you were found without a license, then you would have to pay £5 or go to jail. It wasn’t very pleasant. A big problem back then on the Goldfields were diseases. Children during these times were more likely to get sick.

Businesses were hard to run on the Goldfields. First you would have to get a Shopkeepers Licence. The licence cost about 30 shillings per month. It was a lot of money, but a lot of people bought them. Certain businesses like Candle Shops would make a lot of money since candles were needed, because there wasn’t any electricity back then. Food Stores were also needed to survive. Some merchants sold medicines and soaps, but they were very expensive.

Now, EUREKA STOCKADE. A lot to say in this category! On the 3rd of December 1854, there was a 20 minute battle in Ballarat. This battle changed everything in Australia. Miners had been preparing for Troopers to come for a long time before the battle. Peter Lalor set up a meeting to try and convince people on the Goldfields to fight for what they want and for what is right, but only some people had the courage to stay and commit to the risk of their lives plus build the Stockade. Lots of people died in this battle. Even though it only lasted 20 minutes, around 30-40 people died. That’s more than one person each minute! They built a fence out of long sticks to guard the Stockade, and then in the middle they raised the Eureka Flag. It was made by three ladies; Anastasia Withers, Anastasia Hayes and Anna Duke. These ladies didn’t want to be seen by any of the Troopers making the flag, because they knew that they would be tied up to a tree, or sent to jail.

There were a lot of people who changed Australia’s History and future. For example Peter Lalor. He was a very brave Irishmen who thought things were unfair on the Goldfields. But instead of being a thermometer, he was a thermostat and changed it. He wanted to fight for what was right and that’s what you call a thermostat. 

Some important dates in Australia’s History was the 7th of October 1854. This was the day James Bentley, the owner of the Eureka Hotel, murdered James Scobie. James Scobie was a popular miner, who had a kind heart.l On the 30th of November 1854, 500 miners gathered at Bakery Hill under the Eureka Flag and burnt their Mining Licences. One of the biggest, most dramatic events in 1854 on the Goldfields. The 3rd of December was the date of Eureka Stockade. 

My year level went to Sovereign Hill and we had a great time. Each class had 13 groups, 2 in each. With our partners we were required to choose a building from Main Street and research it. We had to ask the shopkeepers about what it was like in the 1850’s and how it changed from then to now. After we got back from camp, we started to construct our diorama. My building was the Post Office. Lucas and I worked on this. The Post Office was a place where you would go to write letters to your family if they weren’t with you on the Goldfields. It was also a place where you could collect letters that you received. At the back of the Office, there was a residence. There was a kitchen, living room and bedroom. It was very small. I really enjoyed building my building! It was super fun and it required communication and collaboration.

There were many skills we had to apply during this unit. We used Reading/Literacy to research and learn things about the God Rush and our chosen buildings. Our Compare and Contrasting Activity, and interpreting texts. 

We used our knowledge of Writing to type our Newspapers. We also had to research about life in the Goldfields as a child, so we could write our letter to the Headmistress; Ma’am. We had to write a letter to convince her that we will be a good student at her school. 

Maths was a really big part of his unit. We learnt about shapes. How to calculate the area and perimeter of shapes. How to find the capacity and volume and the basics; knowing the names of 2D, but more importantly 3D. We learnt all the angles, and location. Location was important, since we had to code robots to roll around the diorama. The last topic we learnt was coding. We had to code Spheros to roll all the way through the Diorama. It was quite a difficult task, since they don’t always listen to what you say! Naughty little things! 

This unit every single person probably used every single PLA. 

Thinking PLA’s; Imagination, Curiosity, Reflection. I used Imagination to imagine/remember what the Post Office looked like, so we could try to make it look as realistic as possible. I also used Imagination to make ideas of what we can do to make our building look like a Post Office. I used Curiosity when I was in Sovereign Hill. We were learning our 16 times tables and I was wondering whether kids in the 1850’s actually did that or not. I reflected a lot in this unit. On Writing, Reading and Maths. But mostly Integrated! We did reflecting on our blogs, and in our minds.

Relationships PLA’s; Communication, Collaboration, Connectedness. I used Communication to talk to my cabin group after school and to my teachers. I was working Collaboratively when my friends and I were walking around Main Street. Because we had to be in a group of three, we weren’t allowed to go off by ourselves to do what we wanted. I also used this PLA when Lucas and I were building our diorama, we didn’t always get what we wanted. We had to compromise. 

Self Management PLA’s; Knowledge, Resilience, Courage. I used my knowledge of what I already knew about life in the 1850’s when we went to Sovereign Hill. I used Resilience when I had trouble sewing at St Peter’s School in Sovereign Hill. It was really difficult! And finally I showed Courage when I tried to say the meaning of ‘punctuality’ and I got confused with ‘punctuation’!

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

1. Remembering all the 16 times tables. To remember these my cabin group and I practised them until dinner!
2. Trying to cross stitch correctly! I tried many different ways before I found the correct pattern so that it crossed on both sides!
3. Coming up with creative ideas to make items to put in our diorama. Lucas and I combined four thoughts to come up with something!

What were your major highlights during this unit?

I had sooooooooo many highlights!

1. Building our dioramas and seeing the progress that it makes each day!
2. Our camp to Sovereign Hill. It taught me a lot and gave me a really clear understanding of what happened in the 1850’s. (My favourite part of camp was the Sound and Light Show! It was super fun to watch and listen to as well!)
3. Working with Lucas! Working with Lucas was really fun. We worked well together and helped each other grow our knowledge in different areas.
4. Using the Glue Guns! I don’t know why this is on my list, but I find it super fun and much easier than how I thought it was going to be at the start!
5. I also liked how most of our lessons were linked to this unit.
6. I enjoyed writing my Newspaper to show my parents. My grandma was also here that day to see what I had been working on!   

What tasks, or elements of different tasks, did you enjoy?

1. I enjoyed writing our Newspapers. I wrote about the Post Office being ‘SOLD!’ 
2. I also enjoyed learning about location. I have always found location tricky, but I still enjoy learning about it. It was fun to walk and talk our way through the diorama.
3. Coding! Coding was probably one of my favourite tasks. Programming the Spheros to move around the diorama.

What advice might you give others or do differently next time?

I think next time I would pit more effort into making things at home. I would tell future Year 5’s to think really carefully about what their building is and try to make it as ‘1850 like’ as they can! Otherwise it will look a bit too modern!

Did you learn anything about yourself/others?

I learnt that I do have a good imagination, but I have to use my brain as well. I learnt quite a lot about Lucas too. He has a huge imagination and always tries his hardest. I also learnt that a Lucas is very persistent in his learning.

Can you summarise your experience throughout this unit?

Overall, this unit has been AMAZING! I have learnt so much and I really enjoyed it! Going to Sovereign Hill was the best part, and then building our dioramas! This unit was fun after fun after fun! I really loved this unit!

If you are in Year 5/6, what was your favourite part of this unit? If you are in Year 4, what are you looking forward to most?

Tilly!