Year 4 explorers discover First Contacts

The sun shone as Year 4 ventured to The Rocks to become immersed in history.

“Our students thoroughly enjoyed their First Contacts excursion; exploring the streets of The Rocks while learning about the lives of settlers, convicts and First Nations peoples,” said Acting Head of Stage 2 Victoria Mills.

A group of Year 4 explorers in fancy dress and wide-brimmed hats pose with an adult by the water, with the Sydney Opera House and blue sky in the background. The children, learning about First Contacts, are smiling and holding sheets of paper.

The excursion is part of their study of First Contacts this term.

First Contacts is a topic divided into four units; Before Contact, Great Journeys, Stories of the First Fleet and Contact. Within these units, students learn about the long history and connection to Country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and what life was like for them before European contact, as well as the causes and impacts of colonisation.

A group of Year 4 explorers in historical costumes pose in front of a stone wall and mural. Some wear bonnets or hats, many hold papers or scrolls, smiling for the camera on a sunny day as they learn about First Contacts.

The day started with a walking tour that delved into the history and heritage of The Rocks and Circular Quay introducing students to the importance of these areas and their place in Australia’s colonial history.

Two girls stand smiling outside on a brick courtyard, dressed as Year 4 explorers from the First Contacts era—one in a red uniform with a black hat, the other in blue with a straw hat. Sunlight and shadows highlight the scene.

“I liked dressing up as Mrs Macquarie and being interviewed. There are so many places named after Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie,” reflected Year 4 student Maya.

A group of Year 4 explorers in school uniforms, straw hats, and white bonnets sit on outdoor steps under a tree with rucksacks beside them. An adult supervises nearby on a sunny day in an urban area, perhaps discussing First Contacts.

After lunch, the group made their way to The State Library of New South Wales for workshops that delved deeper into the lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities, before and after colonisation.

“ I liked that we all had lunch together in a beautiful park with blue water and a clear sky,” said Sophia of the excursion.

Four people dressed as Year 4 explorers sit on concrete steps beside a wall boldly marked CAMPBELLS COVE. The group, evoking scenes from First Contacts, sits mostly in shadow whilst bright light highlights the wall.

During the workshop, the students had a chance to get up close and personal with a variety of cultural artefacts used by Aboriginal Australians. Working in groups they inspected different artefacts and then presented them to the rest of the class, explaining what the artefact was called, its function and what it was made from.

A group of Year 4 explorers in school uniforms stand in a line, holding up an animal pelt together. An adult man and woman observe and smile, celebrating First Contacts in a classroom with framed pictures and large windows.

According to Issy in Year 4, the excursion brought to life many of the topics the students were studying in class.

A group of Year 4 explorers in navy uniforms hold native Australian plant materials and a wooden tray, standing together and smiling indoors, with a presentation screen about First Contacts visible in the background.

“We got to dress up like settlers and also learn about how Aboriginal people took care of this area for thousands of years,” Issy said.

A group of Year 4 explorers in school uniforms sit in a circle on a dark carpet, holding and examining a handmade net stretched across a wooden frame as they explore First Contacts, fully engaged and focussed on the activity.