Blue Mountains Video is located in the 'Background Briefing' tab!
Your Assignment!
Remember: * Use evidence to support your fact and theories. * List your references. * The more information you include that is relevant, the better.
* The more you use your higher order thinking skills, the better (eg. form opinions and back them up with evidence).
1. Introduction
VERY briefly include the main things you will investigate (eg. the names of the three explorers, where they explored and that you will be looking at different points of view, such as the Aboriginal people).
2A. What are you investigating?
a) What are the Blue Mountains?
b) Where are they?
c) What does the memorial at Mount York say?
d) Why does the presenter in the film think that the memorial might not be accurate?
2B. The Context and the Problem
a) What were the problems that the colony had to solve?
b) How would the crossing of the Blue Mountains solve these problems?
c) Why were the Blue Mountains so hard to cross?
3. Why did the explorers want to cross Blue Mountains? Looking at Evidence.
Represent how the Industrial Revolution influenced what was happening in Australia and why people wanted to cross the Blue Mountains. You may like to draw a flow chart, mind map, story map or some other form which demonstrates your knowledge.
4. Who were the three explorers?
Complete a short biography on each of the explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. Include the following:
* Age in 1813
* Background
* Position in New South Wales
* Previous exploring experience
* Reason for involvement (what was their main interest in crossing the mountains?)
* What main qualities do you think each explorers had?
5. The Journey
a) What are the difficulties and challenges that the explorers faced? How did the explorers feel about some of the problems on their journey?
b) What was the 'explorers' secret?
c) What is the significance of Red Hands Cave?
d) Why did the explorers ignore the Aboriginal people?
e) What was the significance of what the explorers saw at Mount York?
5A. How did the explorers achieve their crossing in 1813?
There were five possible ways the Blue Mountains could have been crossed. Choose TWO and describe the possible advantages and possible disadvantages of each way.
* Possible Way 1: Follow main rivers to their source
* Possible Way 2: Follow the gorges between the cliffs
* Possible Way 3: Follow the ridges at the top of the cliffs
* Possible Way 4 & 5: Head North or South to attempt to travel around the mountains.
5B. Were Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth really the first to cross the Blue Mountains?
a) Who might have crossed the Blue Mountains before Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth?
b) Do you think the Aboriginal people knew how to cross the Blue Mountains before any Europeans arrived? Why do you think this?
6. Reflecting on the Impacts of the Crossing of the Blue Mountains
a) Describe the economic, social, environmental and Indigenous impacts of the crossing of the Blue Mountains. Include whether you think each impact is positive (+ve) or negative/bad (-ve) and why. Could any of the impacts be positive to one group of people and negative for another group? Or both? Think about the outcomes from each group of people's perspectives.
c) In the film, the presenter used the words 'commemoration' and 'celebration'. What is the difference between the two words?
d) Do you think we should 'celebrate' or 'commemorate' the event today? Explain your reasons.
7. Conclusion and Bibliography
Your conclusion is a VERY brief summary of your thoughts and opinions about the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson.
Your Bibliography is a list of the sources of information you used eg. website, encyclopedia, book, expert, etc
****** Don't forget to include your Bibliography (references)!!! Check out how to write them properly in the 'Bibliography & Inquiry' tab!
* The more you use your higher order thinking skills, the better (eg. form opinions and back them up with evidence).
1. Introduction
VERY briefly include the main things you will investigate (eg. the names of the three explorers, where they explored and that you will be looking at different points of view, such as the Aboriginal people).
2A. What are you investigating?
a) What are the Blue Mountains?
b) Where are they?
c) What does the memorial at Mount York say?
d) Why does the presenter in the film think that the memorial might not be accurate?
2B. The Context and the Problem
a) What were the problems that the colony had to solve?
b) How would the crossing of the Blue Mountains solve these problems?
c) Why were the Blue Mountains so hard to cross?
3. Why did the explorers want to cross Blue Mountains? Looking at Evidence.
Represent how the Industrial Revolution influenced what was happening in Australia and why people wanted to cross the Blue Mountains. You may like to draw a flow chart, mind map, story map or some other form which demonstrates your knowledge.
4. Who were the three explorers?
Complete a short biography on each of the explorers Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. Include the following:
* Age in 1813
* Background
* Position in New South Wales
* Previous exploring experience
* Reason for involvement (what was their main interest in crossing the mountains?)
* What main qualities do you think each explorers had?
5. The Journey
a) What are the difficulties and challenges that the explorers faced? How did the explorers feel about some of the problems on their journey?
b) What was the 'explorers' secret?
c) What is the significance of Red Hands Cave?
d) Why did the explorers ignore the Aboriginal people?
e) What was the significance of what the explorers saw at Mount York?
5A. How did the explorers achieve their crossing in 1813?
There were five possible ways the Blue Mountains could have been crossed. Choose TWO and describe the possible advantages and possible disadvantages of each way.
* Possible Way 1: Follow main rivers to their source
* Possible Way 2: Follow the gorges between the cliffs
* Possible Way 3: Follow the ridges at the top of the cliffs
* Possible Way 4 & 5: Head North or South to attempt to travel around the mountains.
5B. Were Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth really the first to cross the Blue Mountains?
a) Who might have crossed the Blue Mountains before Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth?
b) Do you think the Aboriginal people knew how to cross the Blue Mountains before any Europeans arrived? Why do you think this?
6. Reflecting on the Impacts of the Crossing of the Blue Mountains
a) Describe the economic, social, environmental and Indigenous impacts of the crossing of the Blue Mountains. Include whether you think each impact is positive (+ve) or negative/bad (-ve) and why. Could any of the impacts be positive to one group of people and negative for another group? Or both? Think about the outcomes from each group of people's perspectives.
c) In the film, the presenter used the words 'commemoration' and 'celebration'. What is the difference between the two words?
d) Do you think we should 'celebrate' or 'commemorate' the event today? Explain your reasons.
7. Conclusion and Bibliography
Your conclusion is a VERY brief summary of your thoughts and opinions about the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson.
Your Bibliography is a list of the sources of information you used eg. website, encyclopedia, book, expert, etc
****** Don't forget to include your Bibliography (references)!!! Check out how to write them properly in the 'Bibliography & Inquiry' tab!