Learning Intention: To understand the experiences of convicts and free settlers to Australia
Success Criteria: I can:
Interpret sources and explain the experiences of convicts to Australia
Empathise with and write from the perspective of a convict
Research an individual convict
Interpret sources and explain the experiences of free settlers to Australia
Activity 1 - Read and copy bold text
The experiences of convicts and free settlers in Australia during the 18th and 19th centuries were distinct yet intertwined in shaping the nation’s early history. Convicts, transported as part of Britain's penal system, faced harsh conditions, including grueling labor, strict discipline, and limited freedoms. Many were assigned to work for free settlers, building infrastructure or working on farms. Over time, some convicts earned their freedom and integrated into society, contributing to the colony's development. In contrast, free settlers, who arrived voluntarily, often sought new opportunities for land, wealth, and a better life. While they generally had greater autonomy and resources, they also faced challenges such as isolation, unfamiliar environments, and conflict with Indigenous Australians. Together, these groups played pivotal roles in establishing Australia's social and economic foundations.
Activity 2 - Read and Interpret
Read Oxford Experience of Convicts pdf
Answer Interpret Qs 1-5
Activity 3 - Empathy task
Read the link: What was life in early Sydney like for convicts? to complete the following
a) Use the information to write a letter home which outlines the aspects of the every day experiences of convicts.
Your 300 word letter should include information about:
food, work, housing, punishment and clothing.
b) Making Judgements: In History, you will be required to describe less, and be called on to make more informed judgements.
Based on what you have read, would you consider the lives of convicts to be harsh. Why/Why not?
Support your ideas with specific examples, and discussion. (at least 1 TEEL paragraph)
Activity 4 - Convict Experiences: Source Analysis
Read the following sources and answer the associated questions.
Explain the experiences of convicts in their journey to Australia.
How do the three sources corroborate each other.
Activity 5 - Read and copy
Most European settlers in Australia in the early colonial years were convicts sent by the British government. There were also some free settlers, however—people who chose to leave their homes in Britain and make a new life in the colony. Those who made the long and difficult journey to Australia received assistance from the British government, which wanted to make the remote colony stable and capable of supporting itself.
Activity 6 - Experiences of Free Settlers
Read slides and complete the activities as directed by your teacher