Introduction

Many people claim that we live in an Information Age, where trying to learn amidst the explosion of facts and opinions is like sipping water from a fire hose. And the Internet seems to be the world's biggest fire hydrant. Still, just as we need water to survive, scholars need information to learn. Your task in this activity is to answer some key questions on Australian explorers. The Web offers interesting facts and opinions that may not be available anywhere else, but to find the truth you may have to read between the lines. Finally, remember, this activity is about thinking and learning, not copying and pasting. 

Questions

1. Make a list of criteria to judge the success of Leichhardt's first and second expeditions. What changes would you recommend for future expeditions?
2. Read through the information about John Oxley. What if Australia did have an inland sea? Design a 'new' map of Australia featuring Oxley's inland sea. Map your 'new' major cities. Would Australia's current major cities still exist on your 'new' map?
3. Imagine that you had to arrange your own exploration party. What supplies would you need to take? How many people would come with you? Make a list to answer these questions.
4. Read through the information on the tragic Burke and Wills expedition. Design a movie poster that not only captures the story, but would entice people to view the film as well.
5. Play the Race Across Time game. Don't get stuck in a time warp!
6. Read all abour Captain Coook.  How did Botany Bay get its name?   What was Cook's reason for travelling to the Southern Hemisphere?
7. Using different colour wool, map Stuart's journeys on the map of Australia. Create a key for each expedition and include somewhere on the map.
8. Cunningham collected many plant and seed specimens during his expeditions and spent a lot of time cataloguing them. Make up a series of categories to classify plants into different groups.
9. Mitchell had an unusual way of counting the distance he had travelled. Explain how he kept track of the distance he had travelled in a short paragraph. Make up your own method of calculating distance travelled without the use of measuring instruments.
10. Write a story on what you think happened to Kennedy's body.
11. Read through the information provided on Sturt. What qualities made him such a successful explorer?

Web Resources Links

Ludwig Leichhardt

John Oxley

Edward John Eyre

Burke and Wills

Race Across Time

Captain Cook

John McDouall Stuart

Allan Cunningham

Major Thomas Mitchell

Edmund Kennedy

Captain Charles Sturt

The Big Question

Choose a country to explore yourself. Why did you choose that country to explore? What would you need to take with you on your 'expedition'? Would other people accompany you? Who would you choose as your companions? Why? Write a diary of your expedition. Include maps, pictures and artefacts of your travels.

Conclusion

People used to think that learning was all about gaining information and memorizing facts. We hope you've learned some important information in this Knowledge Hunt, but more than that, it would be great if you saw ways to use this knowledge to expand your understanding of the topic. Remember, with so much info exploding all around us, finding a nugget of knowledge is not as important as doing something with it. What will you do with your learning?