goat2

A site study - Goat Island

(Mel Mel - Sydney Harbour National Park)

This program was designed as a site study for the 7-10 History syllabus. The Goat Island Site Study provides an opportunity for students to

Gain an insight into the nature of historical inquiry.

Provide opportunities for students to study past and present environments and develop empathy with the contact experience between Aboriginal people and the colonists.

To develop skills in collecting, analysing and organising information and communicating ideas.

To provide opportunities for students to recognise how occupation has changed over time and to gain understanding about the context in which changes occurred.

To encourage students to come to an appreciation of the importance of preserving both natural and cultural heritage and to understand the importance of conserving, from development or decay, valuable features of our heritage.

Students should be able to define terms and concepts, identify some sources used in investigating our heritage and describe the involvement of different cultural groups in our heritage. Areas of investigation have been divided into themes that help in identifying the changing uses of Goat Island.

Goat Island or 'Mel Mel' (meaning 'the eye') as it was traditionally called by Aboriginal people is a major historical site administered by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) forming part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. The island is an excellent location in which to undertake a site study as it has experienced a number of discrete phases of occupation and development, some of which ran concurrently in different sections of the Island. Each one required different types of infrastructure and left behind distinctive evidence of use.

Learning Site

Activity

Student Outcomes: Students will be able to:

1. Colonial Magazine

Orientation Message Trail

Identify the significant cultural features on the Island and become familiar with the context of the historical inquiry.

2. Grassed area. Rear of Museum (former Barracks)

The Way it Was

Value the contribution of Aboriginal peoples and their culture to Australian history. Participate in traditional tasks routine to the daily life of traditional Aborigines.

3. Stores Building

It's in the Bag (near Cooperage)

Relate objects to the sequence of occupation on the island. Organise items relating to the social history into a timeline.

4. Museum (former Barracks)

Maritime Memorabilia

Interpret display materials to identify and record aspects of the maritime history phase on the island

Pen Pals

Recount the colonial/convict period through the eyes of a soldier stationed on Goat Island.

5. Grassed area outside Museum

Back to the Future

Examine the role of NPWS and evaluate their Plan of Management in relation to Goat Island.

6. Return ferry

Heritage Highlights

Produce a record of their study using a pictorial perspective (montage) to portray significant events shaping the history of Goat Island.

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Learning Site	Activity	Student Outcomes: Students will be able to:
1. Colonial Magazine	Orientation Message Trail	Identify the significant cultural features on the Island and become familiar with the context of the historical inquiry.
2. Grassed area. Rear of Museum (former Barracks)	The Way it Was	Value the contribution of Aboriginal peoples and their culture to Australian history. Participate in traditional tasks routine to the daily life of traditional Aborigines.
3. Stores Building	It's in the Bag (near Cooperage)	Relate objects to the sequence of occupation on the island. Organise items relating to the social history into a timeline.
4. Museum (former Barracks)	Maritime Memorabilia	Interpret display materials to identify and record aspects of the maritime history phase on the island
	Pen Pals	Recount the colonial/convict period through the eyes of a soldier stationed on Goat Island.
5. Grassed area outside Museum	Back to the Future	Examine the role of NPWS and evaluate their Plan of Management in relation to Goat Island.
6. Return ferry	Heritage Highlights	Produce a record of their study using a pictorial perspective (montage) to portray significant events shaping the history of Goat Island.