This term Year 4 have been inquiring into human migration as a response to challenges, risks and opportunities and how this affects communities. The boys constructed a timeline and established key moments in Australian migration and established that Australian migration history could be broken down into British Colonisation, Free Settlers, Post-War Migration and Refugees and Migrant migration in the current day.

To develop key conceptual understandings of British Colonisation, the boys were broken into groups and presented case studies using the ‘key word strategy’ and developed understandings as to why people migrated to Australia. They worked collaboratively to create a class brainstorm answering specific questions around British Colonisation and developing a knowledge base.

The boys further developed their knowledge of Australian migration by investigating Free Settler migration periods. They developed their knowledge of who, why, and when Free Settlers arrived in Australia. The boys then developed a story around a specific case study to become a free settler and presented their story to Mr Suters and Mr Pollard (Australian Immigration).

To develop Post-War Migration understandings, the boys were jigsawed so they could become experts on certain components of this time period and then worked collaboratively in groups to share their expert knowledge.

To help boys understand refugee and current day migration, they were shown a number of different videos and reflected appropriately to develop understandings. The boys then became inquirers so were able to research more videos and become experts on different components of this stage of Australian migration.

The boys completed the unit by interviewing and retelling the story of one migrant. They were able to develop a range of open and closed questions to learn about their migrant’s reasons for migration, challenges and opportunities they faced and how they settled into their new home. The boys were then able to choose any medium they would like to present this story to the class.

This has been a very engaging and provocative unit for the boys. They have all become very open-minded learners and each boy has demonstrated respect, tolerance and empathy for migrants and refugees throughout history and present day.

Shayne Pollard – Year 4 Teacher