Books for teaching History – Eureka: The Unfinished Revolution

Eureka: The Unfinished Revolution

By Peter FitzSimons

Eureka: The Unfinished Revolution
Published By : William Heinemann, North Sydney, N.S.W. Australia, 2012

The trouble with the Eureka story is that it is very involved and complex.  As Education officers at Sovereign Hill, we well know how difficult it is to maintain the interest of an audience when we try to explain the details leading to the bloody storming of the stockade. There are so many important twists and turns that the story teller often falls in a repeating pattern of “and then …. and then… and then…”

Not so Peter FitzSimons in his recent book Eureka: The Unfinished Revolution. 

Books for Teaching History: Playing Beatie Bow

Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park

Playing Beatie Bow has been read in schools for the past 30 years or so.  While it may be beginning to look dated to children today and the language can be challenging, it is still a rich historical fiction full of insights into Australia during the Victorian era.

Books for Teaching History: School Holiday Special

A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich

This post should probably be called books for loving history, as this is a book not for teaching, but for enjoying.  Although there is a fair chance some learning will happen amidst all the enjoying.

With winter school holidays upon us, what better time is there to curl up with a good book for yourself or to share with your children.

Books for Teaching Biodiversity – Australian Geographic

Australian Geographic Magazine

The Australian Geographic is a great resource for explaining Australian landscapes, plants, animals, industry and people to students and teachers wishing to develop their content knowledge. This magazine-style journal contains a poster in each edition as well as high quality photographs, excellent maps from award-winning mapmakers and detailed technical illustrations.  All of which are useful visual resources for in any school classroom, especially when it comes to explaining the science behind particular concepts.

Books for Teaching Biodiversity – Wild Australia Guides

A Wild Australia Guide – Steve Parish PUblishing

Steve Parish’s A Wild Australia Guide series of books cover a range of Australian wildlife from birds and butterflies to mammals and moths. Written by a variety of expert authors it contains a range of information including identification, habitat, behaviour and diet. There are 20 guides with a recommended retail price of $14.95, however most school libraries stock at least some of the titles.  The photography titles are also available as PDF ebooks.

Books for Teaching History – To the Goldfields!

To The Goldfields! By Rachel Tonkin

To the Goldfields! is sadly now out of print.  But as many libraries still have it on their shelves (and we hope they keep it!) we thought it was worth mentioning.  This picture book tells the story of James, a nine year old boy who travels to the Victorian goldfields with his family.

Books for teaching history – Scatterheart

Scatterheart By Lili Wilkinson

Scatterheart sits itself between the First Fleet and the Gold Rushes, but it’s delightful fictional story encompasses the themes of fear and hope in the journey to an unknown land that are common to both periods of history.  Lili Wilkinson tells the story of Hannah Cheshire, a well-born London girl who we meet in the midst of her confusion and despair over her sudden change in circumstances.  It interweaves her present predicament with reflections of her life past.

Books for Teaching History – Nothing But Gold

Nothing but Gold: The Diggers of 1852

by Robyn Annear

Rereading sections of Robyn Annear’s wonderful gold rush history is like reacquainting oneself with a beloved long lost friend. Even better, it evokes a witty conversation where all your best thoughts and lines are voiced with perfect timing. Some of Annear’s repartee may make the reader laugh out loud. After quoting a frazzled dispatch from Governor La Trobe explaining the difficulties of the early gold rush Annear writes:

Books for teaching history – The Seriously Weird History of the Gold Rushes

Books for teaching history

It’s the Year of Reading and we’re celebrating by sharing our favourite books for teaching (or just enjoying) history!  This post introduces Doug Bradby’s Seriously Weird History series.

Household Arts of the 1850s: Laundry

Laundry in the 1850s

This will be the first in a series of posts about the Household Arts of the 1850s.  If you have a topic you’d like us to cover, please leave a comment or contact us!

Student trying old washing methods at Sovereign Hill

Tools for doing the laundry in the 1850s

In the days before electricity and washing machines, doing the laundry was a time consuming and physically demanding job.  During the early gold rush days new arrivals had to carry any washing tools they wanted all the way to the diggings.  Consequently many diggers didn’t enjoy the luxury of properly washed clothes.