OSC – Birth of a Nation
Our Sunburnt Country is your core book for this study, it is aimed at 6-12 years old. We have created a supplementary booklist and suggested activities to accompany each chapter.
We estimate it will take you 2-3 weeks per chapter, this will enable you to finish within the year. If you wish to take time to read more books, simply take two years.
We have recommended a mix of picture and chapter books, ones that are likely to be accessible via your local libraries. We have given you several options below in the hope that your library will have some of these. We are not recommending you read all of these books!
We encourage you to read one chapter book and at least one picture book per chapter. Or at least two to four picture books if available.
The books suggested are below in a visual grid.
We haven’t highlighted our favourites deliberately, as we want you to work within your local library and inter-library loans. We don’t want you to go into debt.
Create your own personalised list by opening your book choice and simply clicking the wishlist button to add to your list.
Activities are optional, feel free to choose whichever activities best suit your family.
Our Sunburnt Country – Birth of a Nation pdf
Themes to Cover
Sir Henry Parkes
- Free, Compulsory, Secular education in NSW
Federation
- Governor General
- Upper (Senate) and Lower House (House of Representatives)
- Federal Elections
- Liberal, Labour and Country Parties
- Canberra – Capital City Australia
Prime Ministers
- Edmund Barton
- Alfred Deakin
- Import duty on foreign goods
- Immigration System – White Australia Policy
- Began building a strong Army & Navy
- First warships constructed
Teacher’s Notes
Our Australian Girl: Meet Rose – Sherryl Clark
History Activities
- Sir Henry Parkes is called the Father of Education. He was a proponent for education in NSW to be Free, Compulsory and Secular. The flip side of this meant that the right to a private and religious education was close to be eliminated. Research this event in Australian history.
- The Federation of Australia was a defining moment in Australian history, the unification of all the states and territories into one Nation. Research and write an overview of how this came to be and the impact for Australia going forth.
- The following terms relate to the functioning of the Australian Parliament. Write a definition of these terms.
- Governor General
- Prime Minister
- Canberra – Capital City Australia
- Upper (Senate) and Lower House (House of Representatives)
- Federal Elections
- Liberal, Labour and Country Parties
Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin were the first two Prime Ministers of Australia. New policies were brought into place such as those below. Select one and write about it and how it impacted Australia.
- Import duty on foreign goods
- Immigration System – White Australia Policy
- The beginning of building a strong Army & Navy
- Construction of the first warships
Further Research Areas & Discussion Questions
The White Australia Policy aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origin, especially Asians (primarily Chinese) and Pacific Islanders, from immigrating to Australia.
- How was the policy worded and what did it mean for non-Europeans trying to immigrate to Australia?
- What were the consequences of this policy for those of Chinese and Pacific Island heritage already living in Australia?
- When did this policy change?
- What do you think of this policy and why?
Language Arts Activities
- Write a news article covering the Federation of Australia.
- You are a child living in Australia, write a letter to your cousin in England telling them about the Federation of Australia, explain what it means for you.
- You are a child of Chinese heritage whose family has lived in Australia since the gold rush, write a letter to your cousin in China (whom you’ve never met) explaining why they now can’t immigrate to Australia due to the White Australia policy.
- You are a child of the sugar cane fields, whose best friend is of Sea Sea Islander heritage, though born in Australia. You help to hid your friend so he/she won’t be ‘repatriated’. Write a diary entry of that day, your feelings, the feelings of all involved, where your friend is hidden.
Geography Activities
On a blank Australian map mark:
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Canberra
Online Resources
National Museum of Australia: Federation
National Museum of Australia: White Australia Policy
National Museum of Australia: End of the White Australia Policy