2010 Education Sessions
Download our 2010 VELS Guide
Download our 2010 Education Programs Brochure
Please note: We are presently developing links to classroom resources tfor each session topic. Click on the live titles below for more.
| Level | Title Click for details & resources | Description |
| P - 12 | The discovery of gold in Victoria tipped the world on its head. Everything was possible, and nothing was going to be the same again! This 30 minute education session will introduce your students to Sovereign Hill and the incredible story of the gold rushes. Sessions are tailored for year levels and provide an ideal overview of the importance of the gold rushes and Sovereign Hill’s role in telling this important story. | |
| P-2 | What is the difference between toys today and those of the 19th Century? Hopscotch, marbles, knucklebones and other games. | |
| 3-4 | How they Lived in the Good old days | Students learn about washboards, chamber pots and understand how household objects and domestic duties have changed over the years. Students compare their lives and school experiences with those of children 150 years ago. |
| 3-6 | Put Yourself in the Eureka Story | The Eureka Rebellion was a turning point in Australia’s history and path to democracy. Students dress up as important characters in the Eureka story and use the Outdoor Museum exhibits to create a photo story of the key events—with them as participants! |
| 3-6 | Gold Rush Immigration | 1850s immigrants came from many countries with great expectations. They experienced hardships on the sea voyage and in setting up their new lives. Why did so many people come to Australia during the goldrush years? Who were they and why did they take such risks to come here? Click here to download Characters of the Gold Rush - information about real people who came to the Victorian Rushes. |
| 3 - 6 | Sustainable Living in the 19th Century NEW | Was life in the mid 19th century more sustainable than today's? What can we learn about the future from the past? Are the old ways the best ways to live sustainably? Explore the Outdoor Museum and discover the sustainable living features of life including water capture and recycling, sewerage methods, renewable fuels, efficient engines, seasonal fruits and home gardens and so much more.You might be surprised! |
| 3-8 | Chinese on the Goldfields | The Chinese bought a rich culture to the goldfields, but faced a harsh welcome compared with other migrant groups. Students use the audio-visual and soundscape resources in the recreated Chines Camp of January 1858. They explore goldfields life for the Chinese miners and learn about their protests against the restrictions imposed on them by colonial authorities. |
3-7 8-10 | Black Gold - Indigenous Perspectives NEW | What impact did the goldrush have on the local Indigenous people? How did their values, perspectives and views of the land differ from those of European colonists? (limited availability) |
| 4-6 | Goldfields Technology | (90 minute session) Students design and build a model to solve a real goldfields problem and explore simple machines. ($2 per student) |
| 5-6 | Gold Fever | Students join the rush to One Eye Gully, re-living the highs and lows of gold fever as they role-play the experiences of the diggers, bankers, gold buyers and troopers who raced to Ballarat from all over the world in search of gold. |
| 7-9 | Eureka , the birthplace of Australian Civics | Students explore what drove the diggers to rebel against the government in 1854. Students meet the main characters, discuss their campaign for justice and consider whether it did have to end in bloodshed. An ideal orientation for Sovereign Hill’s fabulous sound and light show, Blood on the Southern Cross. |
| 7-10 | Health in the 19th Century | Night carts, chamber pots and contaminated water created appalling sanitation conditions. Blood letting was a common treatment, surgery was basic and fatal diseases such as diphtheria could race through communities. Students study artefacts to learn how 19th century medicine was practiced. |
| 8-10 | A Woman’s Work Is Never Done | (2 hours) Career options for girls in the 1850s were extremely limited, and the poor were likely to spend their lives as servants. Students dress as poor Irish girls and work in the cottages to learn the life of a servant girl. ($3 per student) |
| VCE | History, Outdoor Education Geography/ Tourism H&HD | VCE sessions for History, Outdoor Education, Geography/Tourism Health and Human Development can be tailored to suit the needs of each group. |
Self Directed Learning Resources
These programs and resources provide a framework of activities for your visit. You can use them to create your own itinerary with your students. Do it yourself or we can facilitate the program with you. These programs are a great way of linking classroom preparation and learning outcomes from your visit.
| Levels | Title (Click for more details) | Description |
| Students will need digital cameras for these Activities | ||
| K - 2 | Teddy's Visit to Sovereign Hill | Students bring their own or a class teddy and photograph Teddy's adventure at Sovereign Hill. See the Sample Unit for more educational ideas before, during and after your visit. Watch an example video at TeacherTube here. |
| 3 - 6 | Sovereign Hill Snapshots | Students use digital cameras to collect images on a topic of their choice exploring goldfields life. Before visiting they can use our interactive map to make decisions about where they might find some evidence about their theme. Back at school students develop an IT presentation. |
| 7 - 9 | Picture This! | Small groups of students are given a contentious topic to explore while at Sovereign Hill. Their task is to find as much evidence as they can within one hour to support or refute that contention. They use their own digital cameras to record their evidence. Before visiting they can use our interactive map to make decisions about where they might find evidence about their contention. |
| 9 | Rush Around the Hill | Students use their own digital cameras to collect photographic evidence within a strict time limit whilst exploring Sovereign Hill. They are challenged to use initiative to complete a range of investigative tasks. |
Teachers may wish to browse our Self Guided Student Trails as well.