Modern History
Sample course outline: Unit 1A: People, place and time (Local History: The Burrup and
beyond)
Note: The key teaching points are context specific examples of the syllabus content for Unit 1A (Local
History: The Burrup and beyond).
Week
1
2–4
Key teaching points
Requirements of the course
What is History?
What is Local History?
Evidence
Sources – Primary, Secondary. Where and how to locate
sources including internet search engines to locate videos
and images for both the Burrup Peninsula and the Pilbara
Interpreting, analysing and
synthesising information
Revision of research skills
Interpreting, analysing and
synthesising information
Students to research:
The 1940-1960s – a period of great change:

equal pay for Aboriginals and the results of this
 resource discoveries – see resource companies’
websites
 1960 lifting of the embargo on the export of iron ore
and the consequences of this
 influx of Non-Indigenous workers to the area – their
impact
 results of these changes on the social and cultural life
and heritage of the Aboriginal peoples of the area
 economic impact of resource development
Groups report back to the class with their findings
5–7
Syllabus unit content
40,000 years of Local History – an overview:

Aboriginal history – start with the Values and
Sensitivities document

the Burrup Peninsula and the petroglyphs. Put into the
wider perspective of other petroglyphs/rock art around
the world

maritime history along the north-west coast

European exploration and settlement

multiculturalism, including the part played by the
Afghans and by the Japanese at Cossack

resource development

changing land use – Aboriginal, pastoral, maritime
industries, resources, tourism
Communicating findings
Elements at the start of a period
Key people, ideas, events over
the period
Consequences of continuity and
change over the period
Explanations and representations
of the past
Interpreting, analysing and
synthesising information
Elements at the start of a period
Key people, ideas, events over
the period
Consequences of continuity and
change over the period
Understanding perspectives
Task 1: Cognitive test
8–12
A student-centred Inquiry on a subject chosen from the
following list of subjects:

Aboriginal history:
o the Burrup Peninsula
o oral histories
o art and culture
o government policies – changing policies and the
impact on communities/ individuals

maritime history
Constructing historical inquiry
Interpreting, analysing and
synthesising information
Communicating findings
Key people, ideas, events
2012/36954[v1]
Modern History: Sample course outline—Unit 1A – People, place and time
Week
Key teaching points
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the pearling industry and/or other maritime industries
the pastoral industry
the resource industries
Millstream – a changing history
the Old Roebourne Gaol
Cossack – a case study
a multi-cultural society – Aboriginal, early contacts,
European settlement, the Japanese at Cossack, the
Afghans, today
Syllabus unit content
Consequences of continuity and
change
Explanations and representations
of the past
Understanding perspectives
Methodology
 revise the inquiry method using the Research
Organiser
 in-school research
 visits to local sources of material. These could include
Cossack, Roebourne, the Burrup Peninsula, the Local
History archive at the Karratha Community Library,
various mine sites and information centres, Millstream
 presentation of research (e.g. museum display, power
point, wall chart, music)
 in class extended response
Task 2: Teacher generated Document study
Task 3: Historical inquiry
Part A. Planning – beginning Week 9
Part B. Sources and notes – beginning Week 11
Part C. Final presentation – end Week 12
13
Different interpretations of the local history:
 students provide some perspectives
 invite visitors to the school to gain different
perspectives e.g. Aboriginal perspective and/or the
conservation/resource development perspectives
 while not from the area, the film The Rabbit-Proof
Fence could be viewed to show the impact of
government policies and different perspectives
Understanding perspectives
Task 3: Historical inquiry
Part D. Extended response
Overview of term’s work
14–15
Task 4: Student developed Document study
Revision
16
Task 5: Cognitive test
Modern History: Sample course outline—Unit 1A – People, place and time