Australian History Mysteries program has been developed by
Ryebuck Media and the National Museum of Australia. It comprises two
award-winning educational resource kits and an innovative Youth
Challenge program designed to encourage students to investigate some
of the history mysteries that exist in their own communities.
Both of the kits comprise DVDs and print resources that draw on materials
from a variety of national museums, historical collections and historic
sites to bring students a rich array of evidence about case studies (mysteries)
in Australian history.
The first kit focuses on nineteenth century history with five mysteries
about European discovery, female convicts, the Eureka Rebellion, frontier
conflict and Ned Kelly. The second - Australian History Mysteries
2 - enables students to explore mysteries surrounding Sir Charles
Kingsford Smith, the Japanese attack on Darwin, nuclear testing at Maralinga,
the Freedom Rides and the disappearance of Juanita Nielsen.
Both kits have been designed for use at middle secondary level, but
teachers will find the materials and ideas readily adaptable for both
higher and lower levels. Australian History Mysteries for Primary
Students has been produced especially for young learners.
There is also an excellent CD-ROM interactive entitled Ghost Town.
It can be used effectively with the history mystery kits as a model,
in fun ways, the processes involved in research, evidence analysis, problem
solving and understanding change over time. Its scaffolding approach
makes this resource accessible to a variety of learning levels.
Australian History Mysteries 2
Winner of ATOM Award 2006
Best Secondary Educational Product
Australian History Mysteries Youth Challenge 2007
2007
14/06/2007
Ryebuck Media and the National Museum of Australia education section
have just completed their series of Youth Challenges on 'The Mysteries
of Maralinga', arguably Australia's major Cold War activity.
Challenges were conducted in every capital city, to 93 schools, 102
teachers and 775 students.
The program took students through a variety of sessions that stressed
historical skills as well as content about Australia's atomic testing
program of the 1950s.
Four key aspects emerged:
- students were fascinated to learn the details of this historical
event, such as that Australia was only the third place ever where
atomic weapons were exploded;
- they saw how they successfully exercised their
critical, analytical and empathetic skills to explore the issues;
- they identified the continuing relevance of many of the concepts
involved to their own society today;
- and they realised very strongly that
history is about real people.
Students were overwhelmingly positive in their evaluations of the
day - 84% of them rated it as Excellent or Very Good, and 98% rated
it Good or better. Teachers were even more enthusiastic, realising
how effectively the program can be transferred to other situations
within their own classrooms - 65% rated it excellent, 96% rated it
Very Good or better, and 100% rated it Good or better.
Go to Youth Challenge 2007 page
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