Proclamation Boards Complete

How exciting has the last week been! Students are very proud of their efforts replicating the Proclamation Boards comissioned by Governor Arthur, and really understand just how confronting these boards are to aboriginal people  and also  the extent of the emotions that these boards can generate. They had a big chat about these boards to Mrs Moore on Friday and she was quite overcome with their understandings and the humility and the sorrow the students  expressed. Each group of students has put their heart and soul into these replicas. It was interesting to note the article which appeared in this weekend's The Mercury on this very topic and also on the wars during this period of invasion. Last Thursday (November 26th) students did a presentation in assembly. One student shared her initial thoughts on the board after seeing the photo stimulus (before any teaching or research), another her research and another girl shared her reflection. All students went through this sequence in class some time ago. The students are very proud of their boards and so they should be!

The finished Proclamation Boards

The Huon Pine Board

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Assembly presenters

Making Replicas of Proclamation Boards

Well, the replication of the Proclamation Boards is off to a great start. Students have a deep understanding of these boards and how they were used in Colonial Tasmania. A great deal of research has been done in term two and is available for viewing in their portfolios. We are making a prototype first using a piece of Huon Pine I dragged  out of the Pieman River when I was eight months pregnant; quite an experience!  I of course had a licence to do so. David, a hard-working colleague teacher on his final prac, provided enough celery top pine for students to make six more of these boards this week and next and provided all the heavy tools we needed to prepare the wood. Students undercoated the boards leaving the natural wood grain for the trees and the divisions between the panels.  The pictures are very detailed and are going to require patience and persistance on behalf of the students. These replicas will be a great addition to the school resources. Thanks to my husband, Alan, for preparing the piece of Huon Pine.  Here are some photos:

A small amount of drying required

Proud parent

Fabulous project link for Show Bag work by TL

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/67236314/#fullscreen

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/67236314/#fullscreen



Take the time to watch these projects done by two boys in the class..

Show Bags will now be shared with 5-6 Klonaris and 1/2 Saunders upon my return from LSLearly in term 3. The bags are looking fantastic. The students have come up with some very innovative ideas. This is the pictorial cube which encapsulates lives of the colonial figures. This one feature Banjo Paterson and has been created by SG; the legendary Show Bag designer.

P.S. Don't forget Funday Monday. Get those imaginative snacks cooking. Can you guess the Mystery Movie?

Proclamation Board - homework - updated 24th June

Students were each given a colour copy of this Proclamation Board and had to try and decode what it could possibly be focusing on Who?  What? Where? When? and Why? to guide their writing. There were some quite insightful pieces produced.  The only clue I gave was that is was part of our early colonial period. Students shared their opinions and then we listened to a recording about its significance and read along with the transcript. There are only two of the originals left in Tasmania. Students' research will be followed up with a lesson on point of view and a reflection upon their initial ideas. They have been asked to do some research and synthesise two to three sources of information. I would like them to share their research Monday. They have saved their initial thoughts to their USBs and have them backed up on the school server. 

The website we looked at complete with the transcript of the sound file.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2013/02/06/3684744.htm

Today June 14th most students showed me they had done some active research. We then discussed the viewpoints present and the viewpoint missing and students reflected on their learning. Their prediction, research and evaluation will be typed up Tuesday morning and added to their portfolios.

Time lines Progressing well...a focus for this week June 8-12th

The emphasis is obviously on sourcing accurate and reliable information from the web and from books and magazines, on ordering events in time, using a scale, adding appropriate illustrations and of course choosing the most interesting and important landmarks in their chosen person's life time. John Batman was not as squeaky clean as I believed! Students had to make a lot of decisions about layout, size of timelines, choice of symbols or illustrations, and check inconsistencies in the information available from both primary and secondary sources.

Gosh...how tall is this girl!

Collecting information

Well on her way...

by NB

Excerpts from Mary McKillop