Teacher notes

About this resource

First contacts

First Contacts is a comprehensive resource exploring the rich history of the site at Kamay Botany Bay where James Cook first stepped ashore in Australia. This resource includes guided lesson sequences and accompanying activities that can be used by students at school or at home.

Pre, post and remote learning

The First Contacts online resource can be used to support the First Contacts excursion, available at Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre or by regional and remote schools to access the rich history of the Kamay Botany Bay area.

Excursion bookings

For excursion bookings please contact Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre on (02) 9668-2070 or go to the website.

Aboriginal resource videos

The Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre engaged Dr Shayne Williams to develop an all-inclusive resource exploring the daily life of the Gweagal people who lived at Kamay Botany Bay for thousands of years and their shared first contact with the British crew of the Endeavour.

Dr Williams is a Dharawal elder and an Aboriginal language and culture consultant with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) Inc.

These unique videos are included in the First Contacts resource. They provide detailed information on the events at Kamay during the eight days that the Endeavour stayed in the bay.

The videos include:

  • exploring local bush and ocean resources
  • Cook's arrival at Kamay: A Dharawal perspective
  • Dharawal whale Dreaming – a retelling of a local Dreaming story.

How to use this resource

Student learning

This resource assists students to understand:

  • cultural aspects of the life of the Gweagal, the Aboriginal people living on the southern shore of Kamay Botany Bay
  • the natural abundance of the land and sea environments of Kamay Botany Bay
  • the purpose and significance of the voyage of the HMB Endeavour captained by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770
  • the nature of contact between the crew of the Endeavour and the Gweagal of Kamay in 1770
  • the historical significance of Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

Syllabus links

This resource supports the Stage 2 topic, First contacts, in the History K-10 Syllabus.

Outcomes

A student:

  • describes people, events and actions related to world exploration and its effects HT2-3
  • applies skills of historical inquiry and communication HT2-5

Content

The diversity and longevity of Australia's first peoples and the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are connected to Country and Place (land, sea, waterways and skies) and the implications for their daily lives (ACHHK077)

Students:

  • identify the original inhabitants of Australia and create a timeline indicating their longevity in Australia of more than 50,000 years
  • investigate, drawing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives (where possible) and other sources, the traditional Aboriginal way of life, focusing on people, their beliefs, food, shelter, tools and weapons, customs and ceremonies, art works, dance, music, and relationship to Country

The journey(s) of at least one world navigator, explorer or trader up to the late eighteenth century, including their contacts with other societies and any impacts (ACHHK078)

Students:

  • outline the voyages of one early explorer, eg Zheng He, Torres, Jansz, Tasman, Captain Cook or La Perouse, and explain the impact of their voyages
  • discuss the question: 'Who discovered Australia?'
Syllabus links have been quoted from the History K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2012.

Resource development history

This resource was developed by Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre in 2020.

Contact your local environmental and zoo education centre (EZEC) for support with environmental and sustainability education.