Lesson Plan Six

The History Mysteries of Sydney


	Grade Level: 8-9 Subject: Writing, Speaking, World History Time needed: 8-10 hours

Lesson Overview
Lesson Summary	Aborigines inhabited what is now known as Sydney 40,000 years before it was colonized by the British in the 1700s. The British migration made a lasting impact on the natives and the area then known as Sydney Cove. Students will use information from a lecture on the history of Sydney and their own research to identify people and events that were significant to the development of Sydney into a major city of Australia. Students will write an expository paper describing a person or major event in the history of Sydney from 1770-1890 that had an influence, positive or negative, on the history of Sydney. Each student will orally present his/her paper to the class.
Objectives	The student will: Identify the nations that explored the Sydney area before the British. Identify and explain Britain's reasons for colonizing the Sydney area. Identify five key people and their contributions to the establishment and growth of Sydney. Describe at least one major event or incident significant to the early history of Sydney.
Student Prerequisite Skills	Take notes from a lecture Library research skills Internet search skills
Materials	Notebook paper Pen Large map of Sydney Library resources for Sydney Internet access (if available)
Introduction
Suggested Lesson Plan Procedures	INTRODUCTION: Have some little-known facts about your town before starting this lesson. Begin the lesson by saying "How many of you know that ____________?" and "Did you know ____________?" Continue with four or five facts that (hopefully) students do not know. Point out to them that if they were to do some "digging" they could find things about any city or town that they might find surprising. Explain that they are going to be learning about the history of Sydney and that through some research and "digging" they will probably turn up information that is surprising to them. INSTRUCTION: Put a list of dates you will be covering on the board/overhead. Have a map of Australia enlarged or on the overhead to show the Sydney area. Before starting the lecture, show students the area that was Sydney in 1788 (although Captain Cook discovered Sydney in 1700, there were no British inhabitants until 1788) and the area that is Sydney now, for comparison. Refer back to the map as necessary during the lecture. Using information compiled from the Web sites listed below, books, encyclopedias, etc. available to you, develop a chronological lecture including key people and significant events about Sydney from 1770 to about 1890. Although you may have details, provide a minimal amount during the lecture. The intent is to give students enough information to spark interest in a topic they will want to research. Explain to students you are going to give them some very brief facts about the history of Sydney. They need to listen carefully and be sure to take notes. Their assignment will be to write an expository paper describing a person or event and the impact they feel it had on the history of Sydney. The impact could have been positive or negative. They will have five minutes to present their paper to the class with a visual display (photographs, map, drawings, or other tools) to support the presentation of the person or event they chose. The format of the paper: Identify the person or event chosen. State reason(s) for the choice. Provide a detailed explanation /description of the person or event. Describe the impact or effect on the history of Sydney. After the lecture students will choose a topic without duplicating each other. Make the Web site addresses available if the Internet is a resource for research. Schedule two to three days for research and typically two days (class time plus homework) to write a rough draft, but adjust to your students' abilities. When you return the rough draft for a final paper, remind students they will be presenting their topic as a summary of their work. Their oral presentation must have a visual they present related to their topic.
Teacher Notes	Students may need to be encouraged to use the public library if the school or Internet resources are limited.
Related Web Sites	Sydney Interactive Visitors Guide : This tourist guide gives Sydney history as well as other attractions in Sydney. It includes some good details. Parliament of New South Wales: Site with a government focus on history and some good details. Sydney Guide History, Art, Museums: Semi-complete history from1770-1832. Encylopaedia Britannica : A brief history of Sydney.
Technology Supplies	Computer(s) Internet Web Browser
Modification for Differentiated Instruction	Special Needs Students : Choose a year in the history of Sydney and write a paper about the important events that happened and the people that were involved in the events that year. Gifted Students : Select a year that is representative of the person or event they have chosen for their project. Research the events occuring in other parts of the world at the same time as those in Sydney.
Student Assessment	Oral Presentation, Written Assignment, Rubric EXPOSITORY PAPER: Use The Six Traits of Writing rubrics to assess the paper, available at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Web site. ORAL PRESENTATION: Develop a scoring rubric that considers: poise eye contact appropriateness of visual to the topic reference or explanation of visual