kidcyberQuest www.kidcyber.com.au

The Australian Gold Rush

 Name:

Setting the Scene
Imagine yourself as a miner or someone who works in some other way on one of the Australian goldfields in the 1850s. You have come from another country to seek your fortune. Perhaps you were unsuccessful as a miner, and have now opened a business on the goldfields, doing a job that you had before gold was discovered, or perhaps you still mine your claim and still hope to find gold.

The Process
First of all you must find out about the discovery of gold, about life on the diggings, how gold was mined in the 1850s, and information that will help you develop the role of the person you will be. You will need to print the data chart and make as many copies as you need. In each question space, write a research question. For example, if you wrote 'In what ways did people search for gold?' , you would make notes in that column as you found information that answered the question.

Resources
You will find information on kidcyber by following the links from Gold! You may use books or Internet to find information. Some websites that will help:
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/goldrush/
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/marvellous/gold/index.asp

http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/
http://www.upfromaustralia.com/sovhilgolrus.html
http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.html?storyid=110
This one has a list of links
http://www.trinity.wa.edu.au/plduffyrc/subjects/sose/austhist/gold.htm

The Task
You will write either a detailed journal of your days at the diggings, or a series of detailed letters home to your family telling them about your life on the goldfields. You must include a great deal of information and detail from your research. You may include drawings, maps or other things with your written project. You will make a presentation to the class, showing your journal or letters, reading some sections and talking about the gold rush. You will answer questions people ask after your talk.

Evaluation
Go here to find your self assessment sheet when you have completed the kidcyberQuest.

Go to Page 1: Gold!