Post-visit Activities

Writing and assessment task

As their 1850s character, students write a letter to Ma'am or Sir describing life 5 years on from their schooling experience. In their letter, students reflect on their Costumed School experience and the facts they learned about employment, housing, social status, gender, gold supply and family. This enables classroom teachers to assess students' learning.

Examples:

Dear Ma'am, It's been five years since I left Red Hill National School and I wanted to write and thank you for the excellent education you provided. You will be pleased to know that I married wisely at 14 years of age to a man who owns a bakery. He has 5 employees and we are very comfortable in our cottage on the hill. We have one beautiful baby boy and another baby on the way. I hope that one day that we will be able to afford a brick house. Wouldn't that be delightful? After I left school, I worked for a short while in the Criterion Store, utilising the needlework skills that you so capably taught me. It was here that I first spied my husband who was being fitted for a smart new dress coat. It didn't take him long to notice my excellent sewing skills, and at the age to be looking for a wife, he soon proposed. Afterall, I had already impressed him with my needlework, excellent manners and lovely posture. Thank you once again for your sage advice, Winnie.

Dear Sir, It has been five years since I left the Ragged School and I wanted to write and thank you for the excellent education and advise that you provided. After leaving school, I quickly learned how to sew flags and canvas and have since been employed by the flag maker. We are always very busy and I have earned enough money to purchase a tent and live on the diggings. Sometimes, I try my hand at gold panning, but the creek seems to offer no treasure. Rest assured, Sir, that I continue to bath once a week whether I need it or not, and am sure to apply a poultace to my chest for the hacking cough that seems to return year after year in winter. I wish to get married soon and have set my cap at a chambermaid from the postmaster's house. Once I have a little bit of money behind me, I will build a cottage and ask for her hand. Thank you, once again, for the excellent education you provide at the Ragged School, William.