Year 9 English Excursion to Melbourne Museum

Pupil Led Learning at Melbourne Museum

This term in Year 9, we have been learning the art of feature article journalism. Before the excursion, students were asked to choose an exhibit that reflects their interests and design some questions that they wish to find the answers to. A number of students were so inspired by the previous unit of study on Aboriginal Australians that they chose to go straight to The First People’s Exhibition. During the visit they each made notes in their individualised work-books on their chosen field of interest and since then we have been crafting newsy, informative/descriptive pieces that require them to prioritise and sequence their ideas whilst simultaneously entertaining their intended audience. A key challenge for year 9 is to follow the convention of feature articles by writing about a past event in the present tense. Here is a sample introduction to one of our articles:

Melbourne Museum: To Understand The Past Is To Appreciate The Present

Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere boasting state- of –the- art exhibits such as the I-MAX cinema and the multi-million dollar Children’s Gallery. Each exhibit comprises multimedia displays such as 3D cinema, sound and light shows in addition to a wide range of hands on features. As such, the museum welcomes thousands of international visitors every year, truly the jewel in Melbourne’s tourism crown! I am delighted to be part of a convoy of 90 other year nine students who flock to the museum to pursue our own personal interests. My chosen area of interest is The Wild Exhibit because I’ve always been passionate about apes; in particular, I’d like to learn more about their habitat, diet and behaviour. On arrival at the spacious, light filled reception area, I am keen to find my exhibition and commence my investigations!

I am highly impressed by Tasnim Thamer of 9C. Her impressions of the First People’s Exhibition stand out. Here’s an extract from her article:

‘Nest of the Eagle

We pass the entrance to the tour, the wall embossed with the words ‘First People’ in colours significant to the Aboriginal people. Red represents the land and red ochre, while yellow symbolises the sun: the giver and sustenance of life. The first thing to appear before me is a colossal nest constructed from twigs and leaves, faintly glowing in the half light. I enter with two friends to the pitch black interior as we find our way to cushioned seats. Suddenly, a white light projecting from the base of the nest illuminates the wings of a white kinetic eagle whose wings tilt slightly side to side. With a faint click the colours fade from white to sky blue, golden yellow, forest green and chocolate brown- pulsating and fading in and out like ocean tides. Another click signals the start of a recording in both English and the native language of the Wurrong people which describes the story of Bunjil, the Aboriginal deity and creator who sung the world and its people into existence.’