Investigating the Ancient Past is a sample program for Stage 4 Depth Study 1 in the Year 7 History Curriculum. This Depth Study is partly integrated within the ‘The Ancient World’ overview. The Out of Africa theory and migration of peoples throughout the world is embedded within the content of the Depth Study.
The resource consists of a series of six ‘tasks’, namely ‘Investigating skills’, ‘Out of Africa’, ‘Archaeology’, ‘Conservation and World Heritage sites’, ‘Historical investigation: preserved human remains’ and ‘What is history’. Each task has multiple skills focuses, for example, understanding chronology and terms and concepts, research, analysis of sources and explanation and communication. Suggestions and questions are offered for examining the ancient sites of Lake Mungo and Pompeii.
Completion of all the tasks and worksheets will make a significant contribution towards students’ attaining several of the general capabilities. These include critical and creative thinking, intercultural understanding, and information and communication technology capability.
The resource touches on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures cross-curriculum priority when students consider early life in Australia at Lake Mungo.