Beginning the journey

(World News, 2015) 

Our grade 10 history task for this term involves a blog based on the 1965 Freedom Rides in Australia.  This is the first time I am doing an assessment task of this nature and I am really excited about what my students are going to produce. In essence we are looking for a combination of historical fact, with a personal touch. Here is the task outline: 

Your Task:

Write four blog entries as if you were taking part in the Freedom Ride through NSW in the summer of 1965. You want to let people know what is happening and encourage people to support you as you travel in the bus with other students.

Imagine yourself on the Freedom Ride either as an indigenous or non-indigenous male or female and be sure to detail:

The reason for the Freedom Ride

What towns you visited (one blog entry for each town).

○      N.B. one of the towns must be either Walgett or Moree

The reactions of people when you visited those towns (search for newspaper reports, radio broadcasts or any other multimedia examples on the internet)

What you want people who read your blog to do to help you

What you hope to achieve.

It is important that you display an understanding of the event and the reasons for the Freedom Ride and place it in the context of the campaign for change and the 1967 referendum. You should also research and mention the part played by Charles Perkins in the Freedom Ride. 

History shapes our present. Although these rides took place 50 years ago, it is relevant today as it can be applied to our lives. It can inspire us to fight for change, to stand up for our beliefs and to make sure that all humans have their basic rights met.

Join our class on the journey and please also stop by at my awesome colleague Camilla Meyers' blog at http://freedomridesmeyers.weebly.com/research.html to follow us on our own journey through this significant time in Australia's history. 

Reference:
World News. (2015) Fiftieth Anniversary Re-Enactment Of Freedom Ride Goes North To Fight Discrimination Against Aboriginal People. (Image) Retrieved from http://article.wn.com/view/2015/02/18/Fiftieth_anniversary_reenactment_of_freedom_ride_goes_north_/