UNIT No. 7.1 UNIT TITLE Investigating the Ancient Past Approach C (V3.0)

SUBJECTHistory YEAR7

FOCUS QUESTION:

How do historians and archaeologists investigate the past and what are the problems they encounter?

CODES FOR RESOURCES: V = Video, PP = Power Point, TN = Teachers Notes, SN = Student Notes, H = Handouts,

Curriculum Plan Topics
Duration / Topic
Historical evidence / 6 Lessons / Weeks 1-2
Australia's ancient past
OR
The Mystery of the skeletons of Maiden Castle
OR
The Mystery of OTZI
OR
The Mystery of Narrabeen Man / 7 Lessons / Weeks 3-4
Guided research / 6 Lessons / Weeks 5-6
Conserving the past / 2 Lessons / Week - 7
Total Unit / 21 Lessons

CONTENT AND KEY CONCEPTS: How do historians and archaeologists investigate the past and what are the problems they encounter?

In this unit you will investigate the ancient past with a focus on how historians and archaeologists gather and use sources to uncover, reconstruct and interpret the past. You will come to understand the problems they encounter and the limitations of historical sources from the ancient past.

The contestable nature of history is investigated through exploring an historicalcontroversy or mystery

Link to the Year 7 Australian Curriculum - Investigating the ancient past

  • How historians and archaeologists investigate history, including excavation and archival research (ACDSEH001)
  • The range of sources that can be used in an historical investigation, including archaeological and written sources (ACDSEH029)
  • The methods and sources used to investigate at least ONE historical controversy or mystery that has challenged historians or archaeologists, such as in the analysis of unidentified human remains (ACDSEH030)

Adjustments for needs of learners

Link new information to existing informationInstructions verbalised & visualised

Clear scaffolding of workConstant checking of comprehension

Use of concrete examples & materialsGive multiple examples

Constant review of informationGive clear concise instructions

Task recall/clarification with studentUse of check lists

Extensions Activities for G&T

Learning Goal 1 / Success criteria
Investigate the work of historians and archaeologists
Understand how the ancient past is investigated and the challenges facing historians when reconstructing an account of the past. / Draw conclusions about the nature of history and historical sources?
Construct an account that is based on evidence?
Identify and understand the nature of an historical inquiry
Appreciate different and contested interpretations of the past
Draw conclusions about the problems faced when trying to reconstruct the past
Learning Goal 2 - 3 / Success criteria
Lessons 2-3 Investigating the movement of ancient peoples
Understand the contestability of theories about the migration of
ancient peoples.
Examine the contestability of theories about the migration of ancient peoples / Understand the challenges faced by historiansexamining the ancient past
Process contestable theories related to themigration of ancient peoples
Examine evidence related to modern humans who migrated from Africa to various parts of the world
JACARANDA SECOND EDITION
Use the text book to cover areas such as
All of chapter 1

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Learning Goal 4 / Success criteria
Lesson4 - Lake Mungo archaeological site
Understand the significance of excavations at Lake Mungo and what they reveal about Australia's past / Explain the significance of excavations at Lake Mungo and what they reveal about Australia's past
Understand the significance of Lake Mungo as an archaeological site

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Learning Goal 5 / Success criteria
Lesson5 - Lake Mungo, the puzzle continues
Understand the controversy surrounding the archaeological excavations at Lake Mungo for revelations about Australia's ancient past. / Explain the controversy surrounding the archaeological excavations at Lake Mungo
Identify a possible journey to Australia of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Reflect on understanding of archaeology and Australia's ancient past
Learning Goal 6 / Success Criteria
Lesson6
Lake Mungo: What else have they found?
Understand the way artefacts excavated at Lake Mungo reveal the life of the earliest people in Australia.
Understand the role of Aboriginal oral traditions in explaining unresolved mysteries about Australia's ancient past. / Draw conclusions about life at Lake Mungo from sources, and possible reasons for change over time in Australia's ancient past?
Examine sources of evidence of the ancient pastto investigate the life of the earliest inhabitants at Lake Mungo
Analyse the significance of ancient oral traditions to modern understandings of the past
Draw conclusions from source evidence about possible reasons for the changes to the Lake Mungo region

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Learning Goal 7 / Success Criteria
Lesson7
Review, reinforce and extend learning / Example learning sequence
•Review, reinforce and extend learning

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Learning Goal 8 / Success criteria
Lesson8 Beyond Lake Mungo
Understand how historians and archaeologists investigate sites and artefacts.
Understand how excavation sites show evidence of ancient people's use of natural resources. / Describe features of an excavation site or an artefact
Explain how sites and artefacts show evidence of ancient people's use of natural resources
Use historical information and sources to identify and evaluate various kinds of occupational sites used by ancient peoples
Analyse visual sources and descriptions of ancient artefacts to understand their features and purpose
Draw conclusions about the strata sequence in an archaeological site to understand changes over time

Alternative units for lessons 4 to 8

Success Criteria
The Mystery of the skeletons of Maiden Castle / Ability to use sources to develop an hypothesis that can be supported by evidence
The Mystery of Narrabeen Man / Ability to use sources to develop an hypothesis that can be supported by evidence
The Mystery of OTZI / Ability to use sources to develop an hypothesis that can be supported by evidence

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Learning Goal 9 -10 / Success criteria
Lessons 9-10
Developing texts about an artefact
Understand how to select and use information as evidence in a text to describe and explain an artefact. / Write an explanation of the purpose and significance of an artefact
Example learning sequence
Discuss the research component of the assessment task
Group research notes about the Bradshaw rock art paintings
Review features of a paragraph
Critique a descriptive paragraph about the Bradshaw paintings
Compose an explanatory paragraph from notes

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Learning Goal 11 / Success criteria
Lesson11Historical inquiry process
Understand the historical inquiry process, including the development of a key question, for investigating an ancient artefact. / Develop focused inquiry questions to guide the investigation of an ancient artefact?
Example learning sequence
Understand the process of historical inquiry
Explore the requirements of the assessment task
Pose inquiry questions for an historical inquiry into an ancient artefact
Locate relevant sources using ICT and other methods
Learning Goal 12 - 13 / Success criteria
Lessons 12-13 Comparing and selecting information
Understand how to compare and select information from sources as evidence to answer inquiry questions.
Lesson Plan 12 - 13
ILP Lesson Plan 12 - 13 / Select and record information from a range of sources as evidence to answer inquiry questions
Identify sources relevant to historical inquiry
Locate, compare and select information from a range of sources as evidence to answer inquiry questions.
Evaluate information from sources as evidence to answer inquiry questions

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Learning Goal 14 / Success criteria
Lesson14
Refining research
Lesson plan 14
ILP Lesson plan 14 / Lesson objectives
Students will:
•Understand how to refine process of historical inquiry to select relevant information as evidence.
Evidence of learning
Can the student:
•Select information from a range of relevant sources as evidence to answer inquiry questions about an ancient artefact?
Example learning sequence
•Review and refine inquiry questions
•Select information from a range of sources to answer inquiry questions
•Deconstruct a model response to identify text and language features
Learning Goal 15 / Success Criteria
Lesson15 -
Developing texts
Understand how to use research notes to develop descriptive and explanatory paragraphs about an ancient artefact.
Lesson plan 15 ILP Lesson plan 15 / Write coherent and well-structured paragraphs about an ancient artefact
Example learning sequence
•Plan a descriptive and an explanatory paragraph about the ancient artefact
•Write a descriptive and an explanatory paragraph about the ancient artefact
Learning Goal 16 / Success Criteria
Lesson16
Review, reinforce and extend learning
Lesson Plan 16 ILP Lesson 16 / Review, reinforce and extend learning
Learning Goal / Success Criteria
Lessons 17-18
Issues and controversies
Understand the controversy and sensitivity surrounding the preservation of the past. / Discuss the preservation of the artefact chosen for the assessment task
List the advantages and disadvantages of World Heritage listing
Reflect upon the value of and controversy surrounding theconservation of the ancient past

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Student learning aligns to the following components of the Achievement standard.

By the end of Year 7, students suggest reasons for change and continuity over time. They describe the effects of change on societies, individuals and groups. They describe events and developments from the perspective of different people who lived at the time. Students explain the role of groups and the significance of particular individuals in society. They identify past events and developments that have been interpreted in different ways.

Students sequence events and developments within a chronological framework, using dating conventions to represent and measure time. When researching, students develop questions to frame an historical inquiry. They identify and select a range of sources and locate, compare and use information to answer inquiry questions.They examine sources to explain points of view. When interpreting sources, they identify their origin and purpose.

Students develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations. In developing these texts and organising and presenting their findings, they use historical terms and concepts, incorporate relevant sources, and acknowledge their sources of information.

General capabilities

This unit provides opportunities for students to engage in the following General capabilities.

Literacy

•Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing

•Composing text through speaking, writing and creating

•Text knowledge

•Grammar knowledge

•Word knowledge

•Visual knowledge

Numeracy

•Using spatial reasoning

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Year: 7

Learning Areas: HISTORY

Status:

Master

Duration: 18Weeks

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No Curriculum Tracking information found that was applicable to this curriculum plan and specified criteria.

Historical Skills

Analysis and use of sources

• Draw conclusions about the usefulness of sources(ACHHS211)

• Identify the origin and purpose of primary and secondary sources(ACHHS209)

• Locate, compare, select and use information from a range of sources as evidence

(ACHHS210)

Chronology, terms and concepts

• Sequence historical events, developments and periods(ACHHS205)

• Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS206)

Explanation and communication

• Develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations that use evidence from a range of sources that are acknowledged(ACHHS213)

• Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies

(ACHHS214)

Historical questions and research

• Identify a range of questions about the past to inform a historical inquiry

(ACHHS207)

• Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods(ACHHS208) Perspectives and interpretations

• Identify and describe points of view, attitudes and values in primary and secondary sources (ACHHS212)

Historical Knowledge and Understanding

Overview

The following content is to be taught as part of an overview for the historical period. It is not intended to be taught in depth. An overview will constitute approximately 10% of the total teaching time for the year. Overview content identifies important features of the period, approximately 60 000 BC (BCE) – c.650 AD (CE), as part of an expansive chronology that helps students understand broad patterns of historical change. As such, the overview provides the broader context for the teaching of depth study content and can be built into various parts of a teaching and learning program. This means that overview content can be used to give students an introduction to the historical period; to make the links to and between the depth studies; and to consolidate understanding through a review of the period.

Overview content for the ancient world (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Greece, Rome, India, China and the Maya) includes the following:

the theory that people moved out of Africa around 60 000 BC (BCE) and migrated to other parts of the world, including Australia.(ACOKFH001)

Depth Studies

There are three depth studies for this historical period. For each depth study, there are up to three electives that focus on a particular society, event, movement or development. It is expected that ONE elective will be studied in detail. A depth study elective will constitute approximately 30% of the total teaching time for the year. The content in each depth study elective is designed to allow detailed study of specific aspects of this historical period. As part of a teaching and learning program, depth study content can be integrated with the overview content and/or with other depth

study electives.

Investigating the ancient past

Students build on and consolidate their understanding of historical inquiry from previous years in depth, using a range of sources for the study of the ancient past.

Investigating the ancient past

• How historians and archaeologists investigate history, including excavation and archival research(ACDSEH001)

• The importance of conserving the remains of the ancient past, including the heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.(ACDSEH148)

• The methods and sources used to investigate at least ONE historical controversy or mystery that has challenged historians or archaeologists, such as in the analysis of unidentified human remains(ACDSEH030)

• The nature of the sources for ancient Australia and what they reveal about

Australia’s past in the ancient period, such as the use of resources(ACDSEH031)

• The range of sources that can be used in an historical investigation, including archaeological and written sources(ACDSEH029

Feedback to students

Establish active feedback partnerships between students, teachers and parents to find out:

•what each student already knows and can do

•how each student is going

•where each student needs to go next.

Ensure feedback is timely, ongoing, instructive and purposeful.

Feedback may relate to misunderstandings and common alterative conceptions. In this unit this may include the following.

•Students may think that because a source is not written it is not useful. Explain how important non written sources are in understanding ancient societies and that often non-written sources are the only ones available. Explain the problems of gaps in the sources from the ancient past and the strengths and weaknesses of making intuitive 'leaps' in our explanations of the past.

Use feedback to inform future teaching and learning.

Reflection on the unit plan

Identify what worked well during and at the end of the unit for future planning. Reflection may include:

•activities that worked well and why

•activities that could be improved and how

•monitoring and assessment that worked well and why

•monitoring and assessment that could be improved and how

•common student misconceptions that need, or needed, to be clarified

•differentiation and future student learning needs.

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