Girls in school uniform are unpacking a set of wooden crates in front of a painted backdrop
WA Shipwrecks Museum

Shipwrecked! A Past in the Present Experience
Facilitated

Dates

Monday to Friday during term

Sessions: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm

Primary/Secondary
Primary
Year Level
Year 2
Duration
120-180 minutes
Cost

$240 per session (maximum 32 students)

Book now

Overview

Explore the past as we sail through time, examining objects from a historical ‘shipwreck’, and finding remnants from bygone years in our old Museum building.

This program assists teachers of year 2 students with the following HASS focus questions:

  • History: Why and how have some objects and technologies changed over time, and how have these changes affected the way we live? (ACHASSK046)
  • History: What were the connections between Fremantle and England during the colonial years, and why were they important? (ACHASSK050)
  • History: What was the history of the Museum building (built in 1852) and what physical traces from the past can still be seen? (ACHASSK044)

 

At the Museum

What your class will experience

Students participating in this two part program will:

Part A: Facilitated Activity (Education Activity Room, adjacent to the WA Shipwrecks Museum): 

  • Sit in a themed activity room, with immersive setting and props, and participate in an interactive re-enactment which uses the local 1852 event of the Eglinton shipwreck to examine objects from the past.
  • Use real historical objects to observe and discuss changes in communication, transport and technology over time.
  • Work in small groups to handle and investigate objects from the past (similar to objects that were retrieved from the Eglinton shipwreck), discussing which items were the most important and how these objects differ from today.
  • Discover how the event of the Eglinton shipwrecking is known about today, by looking at letters, newspaper articles and talking about the Museum’s role in object preservation.

Part B: Self-Guided Museum Exploration (outside and inside the WA Shipwrecks Museum, Bathers Beach):

  • Learn the history of the Museum building, which was built by convicts in 1852 as a Commissariat (storage building).
  • Explore the outside and inside of the Museum, to find parts of the building that show its history and uses over time.
  • Find objects (including everyday items, machines, navigational tools and more) inside the Museum which can show how some things have changed over time and other things have remained the same.
  • Examine objects from the Eglinton display, to reinforce content learned in the facilitated program.

Download the Shipwrecked! A Past in the Present Experience Self-Guided Museum Exploration [PDF 4.5MB]

Part C (Optional): Self-Guided Olden Days Games with food & drink break (Outside the WA Shipwrecks Museum on the grass):

  • Borrow a kit of Olden Days toys and games (such as skipping ropes, quoits and knucklebones) to play on the grass outside the Museum.
  • Rules and guidelines are provided in the kits, although parents and students can make up their own versions of the games.
  • Groups are encouraged to discuss the similarities and differences between modern and Olden Days games and toys.
  • Groups are responsible for packing up the games ready for the next group.
  • Before or after playing the games, students can have a morning tea or lunch break.
  • In wet weather, Part C will not proceed as games cannot be played inside the Museum. If this is the case the class will spend additional time on Part B.

 

Booking instructions

Step 1 – Creating your Class Rotation

  • Before you book, it is important that you create a proposed rotation for your visit so that you are clear on what time your class is participating in the activity (Part A: Facilitated) and what time the class is visiting the galleries (Part B: Self Guided). This is even more important when you are booking for more than one class.
  • We can accommodate up to 5 facilitated (Part A) sessions per day, with available time-slots of 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm during term time. Each session needs to be booked separately.
  • A maximum of 32 students (a class) is allowed per facilitated (Part A) session.
  • Up to two classes can be in the galleries at the same time for the self-guided (Part B) session.
  • If you are bringing more than two classes we can help create a rotation involving the optional self-guided games (Part C). You can print out and use the following timetable if you wish.

WA Shipwrecks Museum Education Program 3 Group Rotation Timetable [PDF 127KB]

Step 2 – Making a booking

Please send an email to education@museum.wa.gov.au with the following details and we will begin to process your booking.

  1. Program choice: Immigration Stories, Shipwrecked!, de Vlamingh's Journey or Strangers on the Shore
  2. Preferred visit dates and session times
  3. Number of classes & student numbers in each class
  4. Number of attending adults per class
  5. Contact Teacher name, email and mobile number
  6. School

Step 3 – Planning your visit

  • Don’t forget to read the Planning Your Visit section so you are prepared for your visit to the Museum
  • If you are booking for more than one class please share this page with your fellow class teachers

Please email education@museum.wa.gov.au or call us on 1300 134 081 to discuss other booking options if the above is not suitable.

Booking Conditions

  • We may need refuse entry if we are already at capacity at your selected Museum and you haven't pre-booked.
  • A minimum supervisor ratio of 1 adult to 6 students is required. Small group work will require adult supervision and attendance.
  • Bookings need to be made 14 days before the date of your visit.
  • Changes to dates and times are subject to availability.
  • Refunds are not available if you cancel your booking within 14 days of your visit.

 

Curriculum Links

Programs and exhibitions at the WA Museum support teachers in their delivery of the WA Curriculum to their students. Shipwrecked! A Past in the Present Experience has been developed with reference to the following content description(s) from the Year 2 Western Australian Curriculum:

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

Knowledge and Understanding:

History: How changing technology affected people’s lives (at home and in the ways they worked, travelled, communicated and played in the past) (ACHASSK046)

  • examining changes in technology over several generations by comparing past and present objects and photographs, and discussing how these changes have shaped people’s lives.

History: The history of a significant person, building, site and/or part of the natural environment in the local community and what it reveals about the past (ACHASSK044)

  • using the internet, newspapers, community information guides and local knowledge to identify and list the people and places promoted as being of historic interest in the local community
  • suggesting reasons for the location of a local landmark (for example, community building, landmark or war memorial) before searching for resources that provide an explanation

History: The importance today of a historical site of cultural or spiritual significance in the local area, and why it should be preserved (ACHASSK045)

  • discussing why a particular site has heritage significance/cultural value for present generations (for example, it provides a record of a significant historical event, has aesthetic value, reflects the community’s identity)

Skills:

Questioning and Researching, Analysing, Evaluating, Communicating and Reflecting

 

Duration

Shipwrecked! A Past in the Present Experience is a 2-hour package that consists of the following two components:

Part A: Facilitated Activity – 50 minutes (approx.)

Part B: Self-guided Museum Exploration – 50 minutes (approx.)

Both components start on the hour with allowance for changeover.

Shipwrecked! A Past in the Present Experience has an optional third component to be used when there are more than 2 classes or you wish to extend your visit.

Part C: Self-guided Olden Days Games – 30 minutes (approx.) and food & drink break (20 minutes)

Please note that Part C is not a replacement for Part B in a 2-hour package.

 

Planning your visit

Specific to this program

  • Before arriving at the Museum, please have students already organised into groups of 4-6 students, each with an adult helper, for the Part B: Self-Guided Museum Exploration and optional Part C: Self-Guided Olden Days Games components of this program. Having your students already organised into groups will give them more time to enjoy these activities, rather than spending time splitting into groups. If you do not have enough adult helpers, larger groups will need to be arranged as all groups require supervision in the Museum.  The minimum supervisor ratio is 1 adult to 6 students.

     
  • Some of Part B: Self-Guided Museum Exploration and all of the optional Part C: Self-Guided Olden Days Games takes place outside. Please ensure your students are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions on that day. If weather conditions do not permit outdoor exploration, please use the inside portion of the self-guided Museum Exploration and then spend additional time exploring the Museum. Olden Days Games cannot be played inside the Museum, more time can be spent exploring the Museum.

     
  • Please have the Self-Guided Museum Exploration trail printed before you arrive and give a copy to your group leaders in advance so they are familiar with the content.

     
  • Students will NOT require any pencils/paper or clipboards unless you specifically wish them to record their work for later use.

     
  • Part A: Facilitated Activity starts promptly at your booked session time. Please assemble your class in the courtyard between the WA Shipwrecks Museum and the Education Activity Room. In the event of rain, please assemble in the foyer of the Museum where you will be collected. If you are starting the program with Part B: Self-Guided Museum Exploration, you may take your students to to the front lawn of the Museum to commence this part on arrival. As the Museum Exploration can be completed in any order, you may like to allocate the parent helpers to start at a different location. For Part C: Olden Days Games, you will need to borrow the basket of games from the program facilitator, and pass it on to the other groups as you rotate through the sessions. When you have finished with the basket, you can return it to the alcove near the Front Desk where bags are kept.

General to WA Shipwrecks Museum

 

Shipwrecks Teacher Familiarisation Sessions

Sign up to our education newsletter to be notified of the next WA Shipwrecks Museum teacher familiarisation session.

 

Education resources

Visit Shipwrecked! Education Resources for suggested Fremantle excursion extensions and classroom activities to explore the topic of The Past in the Present.

Download the Shipwrecked! Past and Present Objects and Shipwrecked! Past and Present Object Information Sheets for learning resources that have been designed for use in the classroom to support post-visit review and discussion.