Griffith Students To Experience New Immersive Learning Program

Students in Griffith will see history come to life when the State Library of NSW brings a new collection of rare historical artefacts out of the archives and into the classrooms as part of the FAR Out! Treasures to the Bush initiative.

According to State Librarian Dr Caroline butler-Bowden FAR Out! will visit six schools in the area, with over 700 students and their teachers getting to see a special selection of artefacts up close.

The schools include:

• Beelbangera Public School;

• Griffith East Public School;

• St Mary’s Primary School, Yoogali;

• St Patrick’s Primary School;

• Griffith Public School; and

• Griffith North Public School.

“The students will participate in fun and engaging learning activities,” Dr Butler-Bowden said.

From September 9 to 12, members of the Learning Team will bring props, costumes and even a story of a stowaway to immerse students in hands-on activities that delve into the navigators who mapped the Australian coastline.

Students will also get the chance to engage with priceless treasures from the Library’s collection, including:

A pocket globe from 1754, that fits into the palm of your hand, showing early European mapping of Australia;

The journal of Dutch navigator Willem Corneliszoon Schouten from 1619, with an account of his search for the Southern Land;

A map from 1703 of the voyage to New Holland by William Dampier, a navigator and naturalist who became the first Englishman to explore parts of what is now Australia; and

A word list from the Narrandera district (1899 - 1903) detailing First Nations place names for the local area.

The State Library’s Head of Learning, Pauling Fitzgerald said when they take artefacts and manuscripts to schools in rural and regional NSW they saw students engage and interact with history in ways they will never forget.

“The way students and teachers connect with these stories is powerful and transformative,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

For more information about the State Library’s Learning services and programs, visit www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning

• Topics:

• Education
• History