Our first main lesson, From the Shore, explores different perspectives and experiences during the earliest years of the colony. The 11 – 12-year-old is ripe for understanding significant events from the past through multiple perspectives, and how these events continue to shape society today.

We are working with the well-chosen, the well-formed and the well communicated thought. Each student decides on a key thought related to the lesson, then expands and elaborates it. This becomes a paragraph which is key to clear and rich informative writing.

Here are a few examples of well-formed paragraphs from this lesson.

Pemulwuy was a brave warrior. He was the rainbow serpent warrior. He led raids on settlers because they wouldn’t leave. The raids happened on the Hawkesbury River. He died from being shot. His head was sent to England.
Levi

Barangaroo was a skilled fisherwoman and a leader of the Eora people. She was angry at the strangers because they brought smallpox which killed her 2 children and husband. She was also angry because the strangers caught 4000 fish in one haul. She wanted them to go away.
Daniel

Patyegarang made friends with William Dawes the astronomer. She showed William words and helped him to belong. For example, she taught him that Warami is hello and that you can bathe with smoke. It was the first good relationship between the “whitefellas” and an Aboriginal.
Asaf

Lynn Daniel Class 5-6 Teacher

Originally a high school teacher in the public system, Lynn has also taught at TAFE and in community settings. In the Steiner context, she has previously been a kindergarten and primary school teacher. In addition to her roles as Chair and Principal, Lynn is High School Co-Ordinator, teaches Geography and History, and co-ordinates the Outdoor Education Programme. Lynn has a B. Arts (UWA) and a Dip. Ed. (WA Secondary Teachers College).