As part of the misguided policy of the NSW government to intervene in the lives of Aboriginal families to create a better life for their children, Aboriginal boys and girls were forcibly separated from their parents and placed in homes where they could be given a quality education and provided with nutrition, shelter and life opportunities that would provide them with better opportunities in (European) Australian society. The sad reality was that the children were subjected to physical and mental brutality and received a poor quality education in settings that were far from the support of family and friends. This source-based homework task is designed to assist student understandings of the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 4: Rights and Freedoms (1945-present) The sources deal exclusively with social isolation, educational malpractice and physical abuse. I have not included emotional or sexual abuse even though these certainly occurred. These issues may be better dealt with by individual teachers making the decisions of if and when the "teachable moments" for these sensitive issues best arise with their particular students.

Worksheet for the BBC video, Pompeii: Life and death in a Roman town presented by Mary Beard. The video examines aspects of Roman life in Pompeii as evidenced by the archaeological and forensic evidence: wealth and social class, public and private buildings, diet, knowledge of the Roman world and life outside the empire and slavery. An excellent video for the Core Study: Cities of Vesuvius - Pompeii and Herculaneum. Higher School Certificate course of the NSW Ancient History Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum.

This worksheet and answer sheet accompanies the 2006 feature film, Kokoda. It focuses on reasons for the Australian 39th Battalion being on the Kokoda Track in 1942, conditions and difficulties for Australian soldiers, the two battles of Isurava and the aftermath of the battles. It includes analysis of 3 scenes from the film that depict fighting conditions.

Classical historians were consistent in their claim that the burning of Persepolis was the result of a drunken party that turned bad. Twentieth-century historians have encouraged us to think a more broadly and to consider other factors that may have played upon Alexander's mind. This homework task supports student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III: Personalities in Their Times Option H: Alexander the Great Why am I never invited to these types of parties? Preparing too much time preparing for Ancient History classes?

It wasn't just German naval personnel who were interned in Australia. The War Precautions Act extended to German civilians from Australia and Asia, German-born Australians and people with German sounding surnames. They spent the duration of the World War 1 securely locked away from family, friends, livelihoods and employment. This task supports student understanding of the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 3: Australians at War I shutter to think of the untold trauma suffered by so many people over so many years!

During the Vietnam War Australian soldiers discovered a major Viet Cong army base below ground at Cu Chi. Their efforts to remove the Viet Cong from this enormous tunnel system was an absolute credit to their bravery and skill. Today, the tunnels are a tourist attraction. This is a homework task to support student understanding of the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 6: School-Developed Topic. Australia in the Vietnam War Era It is an activity requiring students to analyse a variety of primary and secondary, visual and written source materials to gain an understanding of the conditions in which Australian soldiers fought in the Vietnam War.

Is the conspiracy theory true: Was there really a Brisbane Line? If it is true, what parts of the conspiracy theory are true and what are false? This homework source-based activity is designed to create understanding and interest in the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 3: Australians at War World War II Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written source materials to determine the truth behind the conspiracy theory. The truth, of course, was that there was a plan to pull back Australian military resources to a line between Adelaide and Brisbane in the event of Japanese invasion but that the plan was rejected by the Commonwealth Government who adopted the policy of all out war rather than concession. The plan paid off with Australian and American forces slowly rolling back Japanese forces from New Guinea.

The 1966 Battle of Long Tan is touted as Australia's greatest battle in the Vietnam War. But is this true? This source-based homework activity is designed to support student understanding of the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 6: School Developed Topic Australia in the Vietnam War Era Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to seek evidence to support or refute the argument that Long Tan was Australia's greatest battle in the Vietnam War. All circumstances considered, it's hard to refute this question.

Lycurgus of Sparta: legendary lawgiver of Sparta or just legend? This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II - Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to determine whether Lycurgus was an actual historical figure or just a legend? What was his contribution to the unique society that was 6th and 5th century BCE Sparta.

The Companion Cavalry were highly trained Macedonian troops first formed by Alexander the Great's father, Philip II. Despite his military genius, he could not have been successful without them. This source-based homework task supports student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School certificate course Part III - Personalities in Their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students analyse a range of primary and secondary, visual and written sources to come to an understanding of the importance of the Companion Cavalry to Alexander's military success. Most successful armies have a core of professional elite soldiers (e.g. the SAS in the Australian army). Students can research how and why these special forces are necessary and the training they undertake.

The krypteia are believed to be the secret police of the Spartan state. They kept the helots (always the majority of the population) in check through random acts of terror including murder. This source-based homework task is designed to enhance student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra Many societies have secret police in various forms, including security intelligence services. Some are overt and some covert. The more extreme (e.g. Spartan society in the 6th and 5th centuries BCE and Stalinist Russia etc.) used terror as a means of controlling the population. When does their work cross the line of acceptable behaviour? Is there a line? When should good people speak out? What are the consequences of this?

This worksheet has been developed to support student learning for the NSW History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 2: Australia & Asia 2a Making a Nation - Australia 1900-1914 The worksheet includes an excellent passage from Les Carlyon's work, Gallipoli and activities that include visual images of people and equipment commonly found in rural areas in the period 1900-1914. There is an extended writing activity on whether student's believe that a person's environment affects the development of their personality and whether this applies to the characteristics of a nationality.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra. Students examine archaeological and written evidence relating to the fifth century BCE Spartan practice of Spartiates eating at a syssitia (mess hall).

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding for the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III Personalities and their Times Option H- Alexander the Great. A variety of primary and secondary visual and written material is presented relating to the physical and personality characteristics of Alexander the Great so that students can make decisions about these issues.

All Greek city states had agoges. But the Spartans were renowned for their military prowess rather than their pursuit of the intellect. Does this mean that their agoges focused were more bootcamps than schools? This source-based homework task assists student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II: Ancient Societies Option I: Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra The Spartans were really no different to other Greeks of the 6th and 5th centuries BCE - they valued a rounded education but they also understood the political necessity of a strong military.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW History Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 2: Australia & Asia Depth Study 2a: Making a Nation - Australia 1900-1914. Students analyse primary and secondary visual and written evidence to make decisions about how revolutionary was the Harvester Judgement of 1907. This court case introduced the concept of a fair and reasonable wage and found that work is not merely about earning an income. The activity is suitable for students in both Gifted and Talented classes and in regular mixed-ability classes.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part II Ancient Societies Option I - Spartan Society to the Battle of Leuctra. Students analyse a variety of visual, archaeological and written primary and secondary source materials to determine how much freedom Spartan girls were permitted in fifth century BCE Spartan society. The task is suitable for regular mixed-ability classes.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Stage 6 Ancient History Syllabus Higher School Certificate course Part III - Personalities and their Times Option H - Alexander the Great Students examine archaeological and written evidence relating to Aristotle's school in Mieza where Alexander the Great was a student. It also looks at what was taught and why an education was important in laying a foundation for Alexander's rule of the Greek and Asian worlds.

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW Ancient History syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Higher School Certificate course Ancient Societies Option G: Spartan society to the Battle of Leuctra 371 BC

This is a source-based homework task to support student understanding of the NSW History syllabus of the Australian Curriculum Stage 5 Depth Study 2: Australia and Asia 2a Making a Nation: Australia 1900-1914 Students analyse a variety of primary and secondary, written and visual sources to make decisions about how innovative they believe the range of Commonwealth social legislation 1901-1914 to be.