Teaching primary History with the
Royal Historical Society of Victoria
Jo Clyne
Education and Consultancy Services
Coordinator
HTAV
What does the city of
Melbourne look like?
Access Google Maps and
describe some of the features
you see.
Melbourne
Foundation
How the stories of families and the past can be communicated, for example through photographs,
artefacts, books, oral histories, digital media, and museums
What kind of clothing do
bushwalkers or explorers
wear? Draw a picture…
Royal Geographic Society of
Victoria on excursion to
Narbethong 1895
Year 1
Differences and similarities between students' daily lives and life during their parents’ and grandparents’ childhoods, including
family traditions, leisure time and communications.
How many hours a
day do you go to
school? How many
hours a day should
an adult work?
What if you had to
work 12 hours
everyday?
Female Confectioners’ Union – Eight Hour Day Float c1925
Year 2
The history of a significant person, building, site or part of the natural environment in the
local community and what it reveals about the past
Demolition of the first Princes Bridge, Melbourne 1884
Did you Know…
That Melbourne had a coat of
arms? What do you think the 4
objects on the crest might tell us
about trade in early Melbourne?
Year 3
ONE important example of change and ONE important example of continuity over time in the
local community, region or state/territory; for example, in relation to the areas of transport, work,
education, natural and built environments, entertainment, daily life
Year 4
The diversity and longevity of Australia’s first peoples and the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander peoples are connected to Country and Place (land, sea, waterways and skies) and
the implications for their daily lives.
What are the men
in this painting
holding?
What do you think
they might be
doing?
Painting by William Barak c.1880-1890
Year 4
The journey(s) of AT LEAST ONE world navigator, explorer or trader up to the late eighteenth century, including
their contacts with other societies and any impacts.
Make a list of
the events
leading up to
this moment
Funeral of John O’Hara Burke and William John Wills in
Melbourne, 21 January 1863
Did You Know…
That Sands and
McDougall produced
the first residential and
business director in
Melbourne?
Year 6
What is a
symbol? Why do
we use symbols?
How many
symbols can you
find in this
invitation?
Illuminated invitation for the Australian Commonwealth celebrations in 1901
at the Exhibition Building
Did You Know…
That women in Australia
haven’t always had the same
rights as men? In 1908 Jessie
Webb was one of the first
women to be employed as a
lecturer at the University of
Melbourne.