The Year 2 students, parents and teachers enjoyed a wonderful day out learning and playing.
The Year 2 classes went on an excursion to the WA Shipwrecks Museum as part of our History Curriculum.
According to museum.wa.gov.au, “The WA Shipwrecks Museum is recognised as one of the most important maritime archaeology museums in the southern hemisphere. It houses exhibits related to the early European exploration of WA and historic artefacts from the many shipwrecks along our treacherous coastline. This includes the reconstructed hull timbers of the Batavia, wrecked in 1629.”
We had several educational goals for this excursion. First, was for students to learn how to glorify God by being respectful and considerate when riding on buses and attending public facilities. Students were explicitly taught lessons that may appear to some as common sense, such as how to stay in one seat with a seatbelt on for the duration of a bus trip, and how to communicate appropriately with bus drivers and museum staff.
We wanted students to be excited about this trip, but we also wanted them to understand that our actions have an impact on the people around us and we need always consider this. When on the bus, students were expected to keep the noise to a minimum and refrain from doing anything that may distract the bus driver.
When at the museum, students were encouraged to discuss the exhibits using an ‘indoor voice’ and to allow others to have a chance to share their thoughts too.
When we went to the Esplanade Park for lunch, students were expected to take turns on the play equipment, use their manners and look for opportunities to help others. Some students were super confident on even the most challenging play equipment and were reminded to consider the feelings and abilities of others using the equipment with them. Some students required encouragement and support to ‘have a go’ and take some reasonable risks, as for them this environment was new and daunting.
While at the WA Shipwrecks Museum, students participated in a facilitated activity in a themed activity room, with immersive setting and props, and participated in an interactive re-enactment which used the local 1852 event of the Eglinton shipwreck to examine objects from the past.
During this activity, students were able to use real historical objects to observe and discuss changes in communication, transport, and technology over time. They worked in small groups to handle and investigate objects from the past (like the ones that were retrieved from the Eglinton shipwreck), discussing which items were the most important and how these objects differ from today.
Students engaged in a role play drama, through which they were able to 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.
The Year 2 students, parents and teachers enjoyed a wonderful day out learning and playing.
The take home message was that God is constant and unchanging and can always be trusted for all things; but everything else is constantly in a state of change and often outside of our control. Some change is good and a fitting example of why God created us to be creative beings, but some change is harmful and does not please God. We need to become critical participants in change, assessing all options against what we know about our awesome, unchanging God and His will for our lives.
