This Stage 3 integrated unit is a deep dive into the foundational stories of modern Australia, spanning the period from 1787 to 1810. Rather than a dry chronological study, this unit functions as a "historical detective agency." Students move through nine weeks of inquiry, beginning with the maritime logistics of the First Fleet and culminating in the complex social tensions of the early colony and the Frontier Wars.

The unit is built on the concept of Multi-Perspective History. Students are challenged to view the same events through two distinct lenses: the Shore Perspective (Eora Nation) and the Ship Perspective (British convicts, marines, and officials). By integrating English and Creative Arts, students don't just memorize facts; they embody them. They write "lost voice" narratives, create symbolic portraits on tea-stained parchment, and record dramatic monologues. The entire journey is curated within a Canvas LMS Digital Museum, allowing students to develop professional digital literacy skills while showcasing their historical empathy and creative expression to a global audience.

Syllabus Outcomes: The Triple-Threat Integration

This unit is designed to satisfy the requirements of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) across three Key Learning Areas.

1. HSIE (History)

• HT3-1: Describes and explains the significance of people, groups, and events to the development of Australia.
• Focus: Identifying the diverse people on the First Fleet and the traditional owners of the Sydney basin.
• HT3-2: Describes and explains different experiences of people living in the past.
• Focus: Analyzing the "starving time," the Second Fleet, and the impact of dispossession on Aboriginal peoples.

2. English

• EN3-UOKL-01: Key focus on how language is used to represent ideas and influence audiences.
• Focus: Analyzing bias in primary sources and using emotive language to build character voice.
• EN3-CWRR-01: Plans, drafts, and publishes imaginative, informative, and persuasive texts.
• Focus: Drafting historical narratives, persuasive speeches for the Parramatta expansion, and museum labels.

3. Creative Arts

• VAS3.1: Investigates subject matter in an attempt to represent likenesses of things in the world.
• Focus: Using symbolic representation and traditional techniques (charcoal/staining) to create an Identity Portrait.
• DRAS3.1: Develops a range of in-role strategies including maintaining a role through a range of situations.
• Focus: Utilizing "Hot Seating," "Freeze Frames," and "Monologue Performance" to explore social and ethical issues from the past.

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