Small Town, BIG History
Year 2 Program
Small Town, BIG History is a full-day Education Program at Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island. This unique and hands-on
learning experience inspires students to be ‘Champions for the Bay’ as they explore the history of this significant site in
the local community and discover what it reveals about the past.
Prior to the program Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre (MBEEC) teachers visit the students to set the scene
and ignite their curiosity. Students are presented with a mystery suitcase full of precious artefacts and an old map of
Stradbroke Island, belonging to a Professor Thistlebottom. After recruiting the students to become History Detectives,
they construct a timeline and formulate questions to guide their exploration on arrival at Dunwich.
On the day of the program, the History Detectives travel by boat to Dunwich and visit three significant sites - One Mile,
Polka Point and North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum. Students attend a cultural presentation by an Indigenous
Quandamooka person and receive assistance from the Museum and MBEEC teachers. Using the information they have
gathered the History Detectives seek out clues and find the answers to the questions they have formulated as well as
solving the mystery of the owner of the suitcase.
The program concludes back in the classroom with the History Detectives composing a letter to Professor Thistlebottom
outlining their discoveries. They are rewarded for their efforts with a surprise.
Curriculum Intent
History
Australian Curriculum
 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
(ACHHK044)
 The importance today of an historical site of cultural or spiritual
significance; for example, a community building, a landmark, a war
memorial (ACHHK045)
 Sequence familiar objects and events (ACHHS047)
 Distinguish between the past, present and future (ACHHS048)
 Pose questions about the past using sources provided (ACHHS049)
C2C
Unit 2 – ‘Exploring my Local Community’
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities maintain a special connection to and responsibility for
Country/Place throughout all of Australia (01.2)
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have unique belief systems and are spiritually connected to the
land, sea, sky and waterways (01.3)
*A Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment is available on request.
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre
“Inspiring Champions for the Bay”
(07) 3906 9111 • www.moretoneec.eq.edu.au
admin@moretoneec.eq.edu.au