5C News

Postcards from the Past

Last term, Year 5 students throughout Claremont were invited to take part in a history learning activity. Originally inspired by an activity from the United Kingdom (where the BBC asked children to write a postcard about being in lockdown from the point of view of a historical figure (eg. Cleopatra, Mary Queen of Scots)), the Claremont Museum asked local students to create similar work with a Western Australian twist. The Year 5 boys at Scotch were thrilled to take part in the task.

The town provided relevant information to complete the task. They were given fact sheets about local Claremont icons (including Edith Jacobson, pharmacist; Anne Herbert, local teacher; and Malachi Meagher, successful ex-convict businessman), which also included information about historical sites. The students were given postcards depicting historical images of the local area. Using their note-taking skills, the boys chose a historical figure and summarised information about the person. This was an important step to complete in order to apply the understanding of a lockdown scenario to their chosen time in the past. The boys were highly engaged, having experienced their own form of lockdown earlier in the year. Finally, they created images, either hand drawn or using their iPads to accompany the postcard writing.

Postcards were sent back to the museum for display in the Claremont Community Hub and Library, and the Claremont Council foyer. Town of Claremont Mayor Jock Barker and his wife Janet Barker will select postcards from each Year 5 class across Claremont to receive a Mayor’s certificate. Representatives will also attend a Junior School assembly to present feedback and recognise the boys’ hard work and enthusiasm.

 

  

Miss Renae Cirillo
Year 5 Teacher