aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	History
What age group	Year or Grade 3
What topic	Captain cook discovers Australia impacts aborigines
Quantity	1
Any other preferences

Hooking into History: Captain Cook and His Journey to Australia

Opening Scene: A Time Travel Adventure

Objective:

To engage Year 3 students with the fascinating story of Captain Cook's discoveries and how they impacted the Aboriginal people of Australia.

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Introduction

Teacher's Script:

"Good morning, class! Today, we’re going to hop into a time machine and travel back to the year 1770. Imagine you are explorers on a great ship sailing across the oceans! (Pause and look around excitedly) What would you see? The waves crashing against the ship? The bright sun shining down? Maybe even some wildlife flying by!

Let’s close our eyes for a moment and picture this. (Pause)

Now, open your eyes! You’re aboard a ship called the Endeavour, and its captain is James Cook. He is on a mission to discover new lands. But here’s a big question: Who do you think lived in Australia before Captain Cook arrived? (Encourage responses from students)

Ah, the Aboriginal people! They have been here for thousands of years. Today, we’re going to explore what it was like when Captain Cook arrived and how it changed life for the Aboriginal people.**

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Interactive Group Activity: "Explorer's Journal"

Materials Needed:

• Blank paper or explorer's journal templates
• Crayons or markers
• Stickers (optional)

Instructions:

1. Explorers in the Making: Distribute the paper or journal templates.
2. Design Your Journal: Ask students to create their own Explorer's Journal since they are now explorers too! They can draw waves, ships, or even the first sight of Australia.
3. Share: After a few minutes, invite students to share their journal designs and any thoughts they have about what they might write if they were aboard the Endeavour.

Reflective Questions:

• What do you think Cook felt seeing Australia for the first time?
• How do you think Aboriginal people felt when they saw Cook and his crew?

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Transition to Lesson Content

Teacher's Script:

"Fantastic work, explorers! Your journals look amazing, and I love hearing your ideas! Now, let’s dive deeper into this important moment in history. We’ll learn not just about Captain Cook, but also about the Aboriginal people and how their lives changed because of his journey. Are you ready to sail together into history?"

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This interactive and imaginative approach to beginning the lesson will captivate students’ curiosity and lay a foundation for understanding the historical impacts of Captain Cook's discoveries on Aboriginal Australians.