The Year 5s are currently completing their HASS research project, showing their understanding of how the Gold Rush affected colonial Australians. Last week provided an excellent learning opportunity leading up to this research task, as the class were lucky enough to visit the Gold mining capital of North Queensland, Charters Towers!
After enduring two and half hours of travel, we began our day at the Information Centre where students learned some fascinating history related to the area. We then moved onto the Zara Clarke museum, a fantastic little place, displaying what life was like during the Gold Rush era. A group of volunteers had an abundance of local historical knowledge to share with us, and enthusiastically guided us around this 'must-see' museum. After a lunch break at Centenary Park, we enjoyed a tour through the Venus Battery, where ap-proximately 90 tonne of rock was crushed per day in a rustic shed, in order to extract the gold from the Earth. The heat and noise alone, gave the students a taste of how tough the workers had it during this era. Our final stop brought us back to the exciting side of the Gold Rush, at the Miner's Cottage, where each and every child was lucky enough to strike it rich and find some gold.
This excursion was a huge success. The day ran smoothly and student behaviour was exceptional, ensuring the day was enjoyable for everyone.
The students displayed their gratitude throughout the day and respectfully thanked the volunteers, bus driver and teachers that helped make the day educational and great fun. And finally a huge thank you to our wonderful P&C for supporting excursions such as this.