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History / Year 10 / Historical Knowledge and Understanding

Curriculum content descriptions

Examination of significant events of World War II, including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb (ACDSEH107)

Elaborations
  • investigating the scale and significance of the Holocaust, using primary sources
  • explaining the race to build the atomic bomb (by Germany, Japan, the US) and why the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • Intercultural understanding Intercultural understanding
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Military campaigns,  World War II,  Genocide,  Nuclear weapons

Video

In my blood it runs: whose story of history?

This resource is an excerpt from the ‘In My Blood It Runs’ teaching and learning resource produced by the Australian Teachers of Media. It includes a video clip that explores the experiences of Aboriginal students during an Australian history class focused on Cook's 1770 voyage and land claim, and questions to support discussion. ...

Video

The Australian Dream: History and truths

This resource explores the history of Australia and the effects that past government policies and actions have had on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The video clip highlights how, as a country, Australians find it difficult to talk about the uncomfortable truths of our history. It also explores the responses ...

Video

Counted: Being an Aboriginal student in the 1960s

In this short video, leading Aboriginal figures Stan Grant Snr, Marcia Langton and Sol Bellear share their school experiences of the 1960s. Students hear of the different ways they were marginalised. The resource also includes suggested discussion questions.

Video

ABC Open: Aunty Dorrie and the 'dog licence'

This short video tells of a family's experience of the Certificate of Exemption, issued by the Aboriginal Welfare Board, that allowed Indigenous Australians to live as part of white Australian society. Students hear of the restrictions associated with the certificate and the activism that helped to end them.

Interactive

Making a difference

This resource consists of four case studies that explore issues of civics and citizenship at local, state, federal government and international levels and encourage students to plan their own civic acts. The local and state government case studies are most suited to a middle-years' audience while the federal and international ...

Video

BTN: Nuclear tests at Maralinga

Can you imagine nuclear bombs being exploded in Australia, over your home? This 5-minute video explains that between 1953 and 1963, the Australian Government led by Robert Menzies allowed Britain to test nuclear bombs in the open air at sites in Australia. Students learn about the consequences suffered by the Maralinga ...

Video

Stateline TAS: Aunty Ida West: Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, 1995

This 3-minute clip explores challenges faced by Aboriginal people in the 20th century including the denial of culture and language. Students are introduced to Tasmanian woman Aunty Ida West and learn about her background and the life experiences that forged her as an activist, ambassador, and eventually a prominent Elder. ...

Text

It’s Raining in Mango: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the novel titled It’s Raining in Mango. Set in nineteenth century Queensland, it explores the theme of Aboriginal dispossession. This unit of work enables students to develop an appreciation of the relationship between critical analysis and the craft of writing. This unit provides ...

Text

Becoming Kirrali Lewis: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the novel Becoming Kirrali Lewis. The novel follows the journey of a young Aboriginal teenager as she leaves her home town in rural Victoria to go to university. It explores the themes of Aboriginal history and culture, acceptance, adoption, belonging, coming of age, government ...

Text

The 7 Stages of Grieving: Unit of work

This unit of work has been written to support the play script 7 Stages of Grieving. This one-woman show follows the journey of an Aboriginal ‘Everywoman’ as she tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation. This unit provides practical teaching ideas, an assessment task and an essay by Melissa Lucashenko.

Video

ABC 7.30: Survivors of the sinking of HMAS Perth, 1942

This resource explores what happened to the sailors aboard the Royal Australian Navy's light cruiser HMAS Perth when it was torpedoed during a battle in the Sunda Strait on 28 February 1942 and sank shortly after midnight on 1 March. Students listen to three Perth survivors recall their wartime experiences. The resource ...

Interactive

Invictus Games Sydney 2018 – HSIE/English Stage 5 – Veteran wellbeing

This Stage 5 HSIE/English resource examines Australia’s roles in war, including their involvement in WWI and WWII and highlights Australia’s role in the global context during the twentieth century. Students will examine the historical context of the wars and the perceptions that existed during the twentieth century regarding ...

Image

Enrolling in the Land Army, c1944

This is a posed black-and-white photograph, measuring 24.7 cm x 19 cm and taken around 1944 in Drouin, Victoria by Jim Fitzpatrick. It shows a formally dressed young woman seated in front of a desk labelled 'War Agricultural Committee'. A man, seated behind the desk, is handing her a book entitled 'Food front'. The furniture ...

Video

Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, c1942 - item 1 of 2

This clip from a silent black-and-white home movie shows Torres Strait Islander servicemen undertaking army training drills on Thursday Island (Weiban) during the Second World War. It opens with a long shot of barefoot uniformed men marching in formation, and passing behind a squad of stationary men. It then cuts to shots ...

Image

'Gold digging in Australia 1852: bad results'

This is the first of a pair of oval watercolours, measuring 20.2 cm x 26.4 cm, painted by Samuel Thomas Gill (1818-80), a famous colonial artist. It shows two gold miners sitting dejectedly beside their mine, probably on the Victorian gold fields. Behind the men is a windlass, as well as their wheelbarrow, pick and spade. ...

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Sheet music cover for 'Australia draws her maiden sword', 1885

This is the damaged front cover of a three-page score for the song 'Australia Draws her Maiden Sword'. It depicts Australia as a maiden drawing her long sword and preparing for imminent conflict. Behind her, troops are shown marching out of their encampment. On the bottom of the cover in copperplate are the words 'WRITTEN ...

Image

Concert room at Ballarat, 1855

This is a watercolour, measuring 22.8 cm x 31.9 cm, by Samuel Thomas Gill (1818-80), a famous colonial artist. It shows Charles Thatcher (1831-78), a comic singer well known on the gold fields, performing popular songs on stage at the Charlie Napier Hotel in Ballarat with a female accompanist. The painting has the artist's ...

Video

Thinkabout, talkabout: Australian children during World War II

What was life like for Australian children during World War II? From 1939 to 1945 Australia was at war. After Japan entered the war in 1941, this conflict became a total war, which affected almost everyone and almost every aspect of life in Australia. Listen to two people who lived through this time sharing their memories ...

Video

Four Corners: Sukarno's collaboration with Japan during WW II, 1966

Imagine that, in order to preserve your freedom, you had to fight alongside your enemy. During World War II, Indonesian nationalists - led by Sukarno - collaborated with Japanese invaders. Richard Oxenburgh's commentary provides a well-argued historical explanation for Sukarno's collaboration with the Japanese in Indonesia.

Video

The Fall of Singapore: The fall of Singapore, February 1942

Experience the shock and despair of Australian soldiers on the island of Singapore in February 1942, as Japanese forces invade what was held to be Britain's 'island fortress'. This video follows events from 8 February, when many thousands of Japanese launched attacks from the tip of Malaya, up to 15 February when the British ...