The Kelly Gang and the Siege of Glenrowan
Investigate the crimes of the Kelly Gang, the events leading to Glenrowan, and Ned Kelly's final stand.
Key Questions
- Construct a timeline of the key events involving the Kelly Gang.
- Evaluate the decisions made by Ned Kelly and the police at Glenrowan.
- Justify whether Ned Kelly's actions were those of a desperate man or a calculated criminal.
ACARA Content Descriptions
About This Topic
The 'Bush Myth' refers to the collection of stories, values, and images that define the Australian identity as being rooted in the outback. This topic explores how writers like Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson helped create the image of the 'typical' Australian as a resourceful, egalitarian, and resilient bushman. Students examine famous poems and stories to identify themes like mateship and the 'fair go'.
Critically analyzing the bush myth is important for Year 5 students to understand how national identity is constructed. They investigate whose stories were included (mostly white men) and whose were left out (women, First Nations peoples, and migrants). This topic encourages students to reflect on whether these 19th-century values still represent the diverse, urbanized Australia of today.
This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of storytelling and participate in a gallery walk to compare different representations of the bush.
Active Learning Ideas
Gallery Walk: Images of the Bush
Display paintings from the Heidelberg School alongside modern photographs of the bush and urban Australia. Students use sticky notes to identify which images fit the 'myth' and which show a different reality.
Inquiry Circle: Who's Missing?
Groups are assigned a 'missing' group (e.g., Chinese miners, Afghan cameleers, bush women). They research their contributions to bush life and create a new 'verse' for a famous bush poem to include them.
Think-Pair-Share: Mateship Today
Students discuss the meaning of 'mateship' in a colonial context. They then work with a partner to find examples of how that value is shown in modern Australian life, such as during floods or sporting events.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionThe 'Bush Myth' is an exact, factual history of how everyone lived.
What to Teach Instead
The myth is a romanticized version of history that emphasizes certain traits while ignoring others. Comparing a Lawson story with a factual census of the time helps students see the 'creative license' taken by writers.
Common MisconceptionMost Australians in the 1890s lived in the deep bush.
What to Teach Instead
Even in the late 1800s, Australia was one of the most urbanized countries in the world, with most people living in cities. A 'Where do they live?' data-mapping activity can quickly correct this misconception.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main values of the 'Bush Myth'?
Who were the 'Bush Poets'?
Why is the bush myth criticized today?
How can active learning help students analyze the bush myth?
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