Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Assessment description Category Students present a multimodal response to a
historical mystery from the ancient past (between 60 000 BC – c.650 AD) that has challenged historians or archaeologists, and explain the methods and types of evidence that historians use to discover the past.
Multimodal Technique Research
Context for assessment Alignment
Understanding the methods historians and archaeologists use in historical investigations allows students to build a greater appreciation for the role of evidence in the study of History.
This assessment provides an opportunity for students to consider various aspects of evidence, including:
• the method by which it is found
• the different forms it can take
• the type of information it can provide
• how it can be useful to historians.
Using the context of a historical investigation, or mystery in the ancient past, will help students to develop and test their understanding about the role of evidence in determining the past.
Australian Curriculum v 4.0, www.australiancurriculum.edu.au,
ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Connections
This assessment can be used with the QSA Australian Curriculum resource titled
Year 7 unit overview — History exemplar (Depth study: Investigating the ancient past), available at: <www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yr7-history- resources.html>.
In this assessment Teacher guidelines Student booklet
Task-specific standards: Continua Task-specific standards: Matrix Assessment resource: Inquiry process
Assessment resource: Investigating a history mystery
Assessment resource: Excerpt of a sample response for Section 4: Analysing and using sources
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
Teacher guidelines
Identify curriculum
Content descriptions to be taught
Historical Knowledge and Understanding Historical Skills Investigating the ancient past
• The range of sources that can be used in an historical investigation, including archaeological and written sources (ACDSEH029)
• The methods and sources used to investigate at least ONE historical controversy or mystery that has
challenged historians or archaeologists, such as in the analysis of unidentified human remains (ACDSEH030)
Chronology, terms and concepts
• Use historical terms and concepts(ACHHS206) Historical questions and research
• Identify a range of questions about the past to inform a historical inquiry(ACHHS207)
• Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods (ACHHS208)
Analysis and use of sources
• Identify the origin and purpose of primary and secondary sources(ACHHS209)
• Locate, compare, select and use information from a range of sources as evidence
(ACHHS210)
• Draw conclusions about the usefulness of sources (ACHHS211)
Explanation and communication
• Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies (ACHHS214)
General capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities
Literacy Numeracy ICT capability
Critical and creative thinking Intercultural understanding
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures (where appropriate) Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia (where appropriate)
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 7, students suggest reasons for change and continuity over time. They describe the effects of change on societies, individuals and groups. They describe events and developments from the perspective of different people who lived at the time. Students explain the role of groups and the significance of particular individuals in society. They identify past events and developments that have been interpreted in different ways.
Students sequence events and developments within a chronological framework, using dating conventions to represent and measure time. When researching, students develop questions to frame an historical inquiry. They identify and select a range of sources and locate, compare and use information to answer inquiry questions. They examine sources to explain points of view. When interpreting sources, they identify their origin and purpose. Students develop texts, particularly
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
descriptions and explanations. In developing these texts and organising and presenting their findings, they use historical terms and concepts, incorporate relevant sources, and acknowledge their sources of information.
Source: ACARA, The Australian Curriculum v 4.0, www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
Sequence learning
Suggested learning experiences
This assessment leads on from the learning experiences outlined in the QSA’s Year 7 History unit overview. The knowledge, understanding and skills developed in the exemplar unit will prepare students to engage in this assessment:
• See unit overview — History exemplar (Depth study: Investigating the ancient past) www.qsa.qld.edu.au/yr7-history-resources.html
Adjustments for needs of learners
Section 6 of the Disability Standards for Education (The Standards for Curriculum Development, Accreditation and Delivery) states that education providers, including class teachers, must take reasonable steps to ensure a course/program is designed to allow any student to participate and experience success in learning.
The Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cwlth) is available from www.ag.gov.au.
Resources
• Primary and secondary sources for teachers:
– Library and Archives Canada, Canada. Defining Primary and Secondary Sources:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/education/008-3010-e.html – USQ University Library, Australia. 1.6 Types of sources:
libtute.usq.edu.au/index.php?page=15
• Ancient History primary source for teachers:
– Fordham University, New York, USA. Internet Ancient History Sourcebook:
www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/asbook.asp
• Ancient History primary sources for students:
– HistoryWiz, USA. Ancient History Primary Sources:
www.historywiz.com/primarysources/ancientprimary.html – World Digital Library, USA. World Digital Library:
www.wdl.org/en/time/
• Information about the ancient world for students:
– Ancient Life, Australia. History Timeline:
www.ancientl.com/history-timeline/
– BBC History, Great Britain. Ancient History:
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/
– Australian History, Australia. Australian History: Ancient (Pre 1788):
www.australianhistory.org/ancient – History.com:
www.history.com/
– National Museum of Australia, 2012, Ancient History, Australian History mystery, australianhistorymysteries.info/
– Aussie Educator, Australia,
www.aussieeducator.org.au/tertiary/subjects/history/world/ancient.html – Using primary sources:
www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/
– Interrogating objects:
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
www.nma.gov.au/education-kids/classroom_learning/units_of_work/eternity
Develop assessment
Implementing
Preparing for the assessment Student role
• Create a glossary and collect visual examples of the methods (including excavations, radiocarbon dating, archival research, analysis of middens, human remains, and strata) and the type of evidence from various sources that can be used in historical investigations (e.g. symbols, inscriptions, earthenware, paintwork, rock paintings).
• Identify significant places of archaeology such as World Heritage ancient sites, e.g.
Pompeii, Lake Mungo, Indus Valley sites and Giza Necropolis.
• Identify how historians may contest the views of another by providing new evidence or a different interpretation of sources.
• Generate a range of questions to investigate an artefact, such as a shell midden in ancient Australia — Where was it found? How long was it was used for? What does it reveal about ancient Australian civilisation?
Please note that in order to engage successfully with the assessment, the learning experiences should ensure that students can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of “How historians and archaeologists investigate history, including excavation and archival research.” (ACDSEH001). This content description is not assessed in this assessment.
Teacher role
• Discuss how we know about the past (consider different types of primary and secondary sources, definite and tentative conclusions).
• Discuss the historical concept of contestability, in relation to different interpretations of the past, using available evidence and/or different perspectives. Use examples of historical events or
developments that are open to debate in regard to drawing conclusions to “answers” in History. The Assessment resource:
Investigating a history mystery provides examples of historical events and developments that can be contested.
• Familiarise students with the historical inquiry process using Assessment resource:
Historical inquiry process. Discuss how it is used to establish, focus and carry out an investigation into a history mystery.
• Pose questions about an aspect of ancient history of interest to the students. Classify questions as closed and open and highlight how open questions are more useful for research. Consider when questions with a narrow or broad focus are more appropriate by reviewing examples for a range of contexts.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
Implementing
Section 1. Identifying your history mystery Student role
• Identify the history mystery for your inquiry.
• Review the historical concepts and terms in Section 1 that are relevant to the inquiry.
• After selecting your history mystery, develop an inquiry question to guide your research and to help you respond to the key inquiry questions:
– How do we know about the ancient past?
– Why and where did the earliest societies develop?
– What emerged as the defining characteristics of ancient societies?
– What have been the legacies of ancient societies?
• Consult with the teacher about the suitability of your inquiry question before proceeding.
Teacher role
• Determine whether students will select a history mystery or be allocated one. See Assessment resource: Investigating a history mystery for suitable topics that have widely available information.
• Ensure students have a general
understanding about their mystery before beginning Section 1.
• Review the historical concepts and terms in Section 1 that are relevant to the inquiry, and provide examples to support student
understanding.
Section 2. Developing questions
• Develop research questions using Section 2 as a guide.
• Pose a range of questions to investigate your mystery.
• Support students to develop interrelated questions that will provide depth and breadth of research.
• Provides examples of historical questions as required.
Section 3. Locating and evaluating sources
• Locate and select a range of primary and secondary historical sources to research your mystery, using teacher advice.
• Complete the table to identify and evaluate which sources provide useful evidence to investigate the history mystery and develop an answer to your inquiry question.
• Review whether you need to make refinements to your questions or select additional sources.
• Discuss the range of historical sources and evidence required to complete the research phase.
• Facilitate access to library and internet for research.
• Consider creating class sets of resources for a limited number of topics for students who required support in selecting sources.
• Where necessary, model the decision-making process involved in determining the most useful evidence from sources for
investigating the history mystery.
Section 4. Analysing and using sources
• Identify the main ideas and evidence that can be used to respond to the research
questions.
• Use the table provided in Section 4 (or a different graphic organiser) to organise and synthesise evidence from your historical sources.
• Record evidence (notes, quotes and ideas) from the historical sources to help you answer your research questions.
• Review the analysis of your sources. Make adjustments to the research process as required.
• Complete Section 4 to identify which sources have been most useful in your research.
• Determine the graphic organiser students will use to guide and record their research. The table provided in Section 4 is one example.
• Support students to organise, analyse and synthesise their information by providing additional scaffolds and cues as required.
• Enlarge the table in Section 4 to A3 as required.
• Provide feedback to students on the analysis of their sources.
• Recommend changes as required.
• Use the Assessment Resource: Excerpt of a sample response for Section 4 as an
example of how to record the analysis of sources.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
Section 5. Developing a presentation
• Plan your presentation using the organiser in Section 5.
• Present your mystery and the answer to your inquiry question to your audience.
• Submit a copy of any notes and visual aides to your teacher.
• Deconstruct a quality student response to identify the elements of a successful historical inquiry and discuss these features with students, drawing attention to the task- specific standards.
• Ensure the students understand the
organisers that structure the presentation and highlight requirements.
• Enlarge the organiser in Section 5 to A3 size where needed.
• Determine whether any adjustments need to be made to the type and order of
subheadings, or form of the presentation, to make it suitable for the context of your classroom or that of an individual student.
Make judgments
The following table identifies the valued features of this assessment. It makes explicit the demonstrations of understandings and skills as identified in the Australian Curriculum achievement standard and the Queensland standards elaborations for History.
A continua and matrix model of the task-specific standard are provided for this assessment using the same valued features. Each model of a task-specific standard uses task-specific valued features and descriptors to identify the discernable differences in student work for A–E standards.
Dimensions Valued features Task-specific valued features Understanding Historical Knowledge and
Understanding
Investigating the ancient past
Identifies a history mystery and different interpretations based on methods and types of evidence.
Skills Historical Skills
Questioning and researching
Historical questions and research Develops questions to locate and use evidence in constructing an answer to the mystery.
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to draw conclusions about their usefulness.
Analysing and interpreting
Analysis and use of sources
Analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to explain points of view, and identify the origins and purpose of evidence.
Communicating Chronology, terms and concepts Explanation and communication Develops and delivers a multimodal presentation using historical terms and concepts, incorporating relevant sources to explain and communicate findings.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Teacher guidelines
Use feedback
Feedback to students
Evaluate the information gathered from the assessment to inform teaching and learning strategies. Focus feedback on the student’s personal progress and the next steps in the learning journey.
Discuss the student’s response to the inquiry.
•
Were the sources used helpful?
•
How did student use questions in the investigation?
•
How well did the student draw conclusion and use evidence to explain them?
•
What improvements could be made to the inquiry methods?
•
Were historical terms and concepts used appropriately?
•
Were the key inquiry questions answered using evidence from sources?
Give feedback on the presentation and discuss with the student how it could have been refined.
•
Were relevant findings presented? Was there more information that could have been included?
•
How was evidence used to support the hypothesis and develop answers to questions?
•
How were visual or audio materials used to support the presentation?
•
How could ideas be presented more effectively?
Focus feedback on the student’s personal progress and the next steps for improvement.
Identify steps in the inquiry process that need consolidation in teaching and learning and make adjustments to planning to provide further opportunities for students to demonstrate Historical Knowledge and Understanding and Historical Skills.
Deconstruct a quality student response to identify the elements of a successful historical inquiry and discuss these features with the student.
Resources For guidance on providing feedback, see the professional development packages titled Seeking and providing feedback: www.qsa.qld.edu.au/18076.html.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Student booklet
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Image: Easter Island, Rano Raraku, moais, Arian Zwegers, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0,www.flickr.com/photos/azwegers/6691014193/
Present a multimodal response to a history mystery from the ancient past (between 60 000 BC – c.650 AD) that has challenged historians or archaeologists. Refer to evidence and sources to support your response.
You will:
• identify a history mystery from the ancient past
• develop questions to guide your research into the history mystery
• identify historical sources and analyse evidence to investigate the history mystery
• develop and deliver a multimodal presentation to propose a solution to the mystery based on evidence (300–400 words or 3–4 mins).
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Student booklet
Section 1. Identifying your history mystery
Identify the history mystery you will be investigating. The Assessment resource: Investigating a history mystery provides some suggestions.
I will be investigating ...
Define the historical terms and concepts that are relevant to this inquiry.
Historical terms Historical concepts
ancient: evidence:
artefacts: continuity and change:
BCE: cause and effect:
CE: perspectives:
BC: empathy:
AD: significance:
evidence: contestability:
interpretation:
dating conventions:
archaeology:
era:
antiquity:
civilisation:
excavation:
primary source:
secondary source
Australian Curriculum
Year 7 History Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery Student booklet Develop a broad inquiry question about the history mystery that you will aim to answer.
...
...
...
...
Consult with your teacher about the suitability of your inquiry question before proceeding.
Teacher signature: ……….. Date: ……….
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Student booklet
Section 2. Developing questions
Develop research questions to investigate your history mystery. Write these in the table below.
Use question starters to help you to pose a range of different questions: What, When, Where, Who, How?
You need to make sure your research identifies:
• background details about the mystery
• what historians know or believe about the mystery
• the different ideas or answers that historians have about your mystery
• how historians have come up with these ideas or answers (the methods they used and the evidence on which they are basing their answer).
Research questions
Consult with your teacher about the suitability of your inquiry question before proceeding.
Teacher signature: ……….. Date: ………..
Australian Curriculum
Year 7 History Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery Student booklet
Section 3. Locating and evaluating sources
Locate sources of evidence, including internet resources, which will help you to find answers to your questions.
Complete the table below to identify the origin, purpose and usefulness of primary (P) and secondary (S) sources of information including archaeological artefacts.
Name of source Type of source (P or S)
Origin and purpose of the source
Whose point of view is presented?
How reliable is this source?
Can the source be contested on its truthfulness?
Which question(s) will this source help you to answer?
Explain to your teacher why these sources provide relevant information.
These are suitable sources (Teacher signature): ………..
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Student booklet
Section 4. Analysing and using sources
Use your sources to answer your questions. Record your notes in the table below.
Dot point summary of research Source details
Background detailsWhat historians know/believeHow historians know (methods used to find out) Different ideas and theories about your mystery
Australian Curriculum
Year 7 History Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery Student booklet Complete the table below to identify the most useful primary and secondary sources of information (a minimum of two) that you have used to investigate the history mystery.
Describe the origin and purpose of the source of information
Identify how the source is useful in answering your inquiry question
Primary sourcePrimary sourceSecondary sourceSecondary source
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Student booklet
Section 5. Developing a presentation
Plan your presentation with dot points using the following organisers. Consider how you will use visual and audio materials to deliver your multimodal presentation.
Remember to use historical terms and concepts in your presentation and to refer to evidence and sources.
Submit a copy of your presentation notes and visual aides to your teacher.
# Organisers Advice and hints Planning
1 Overview Write a brief summary of your history mystery. Think about what, where, when and WHY it is a mystery.•
2 Whathistorians know
Describe what is known about your mystery.
•
3 The inquiry questionExplain your inquiry question. •
4 Differentideas and supporting evidence
Answer the following questions:
• What are the different ideas or answers that historians have about your
mystery?
• What is the origin and purpose of evidence from sources?
• How have historians come up with their answers?
Identify the methods historians have used to investigate, such as excavation, carbon dating, analysing old artwork or secondary sources (see Q4) and the evidence on which they have based their answer.
•
5 My answer Provide the answer to your main inquiry question Convince your audience you are correct.•
6 Myevidence
Use specific evidence from your research to justify your answer and convince the audience. Consider the work you did in Q4 of Section 2.
•
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Task-specific standards — continua
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery Name
...© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Task-specific standards — continua
Purpose of assessment: To present a multimodal response to a history mystery from the ancient past (between 60 000 BC – c.650 AD) that has challenged historians or archaeologists, and explain the methods and types of evidence that historians use to discover the past.
Historical Knowledge and Understanding
Historical Skills
Questioning and research Analysing and interpreting Communicating Identifies a history mystery and different
interpretations based on methods and types of evidence
Sections 4 and 5
Develops questions to locate and use evidence in constructing an answer to the
mystery.
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to draw
conclusions about their usefulness Sections 2 and 3
Analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to explain points of view, and
identify the origins and purpose of evidence
Sections 4 and 5
Develops and delivers a multimodal presentation using historical terms and concepts, incorporating relevant sources to
explain and communicate findings.
Section 5
A
B
C
00
D
E
Comprehensively explains interpretations of past events (a mystery), with clear links to specific examples of methods and types of evidence.
Poses interrelated questions about the past, and locates and analyses relevant information from a range of sources to answer inquiry questions.
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources and draws discriminating conclusions about the usefulness for the investigation.
Analyses evidence from sources to explain different points of view and makes discriminating use of them to identify origins and purpose.
Communicates clearly, effectively and convincingly in the chosen modes and uses a range of historical terms and concepts accurately.
Acknowledges sources of information and incorporates relevant sources.
Communicates information using some historical terms and concepts.
Incorporates given sources.
Poses questions about the past, and locates and analyses information from sources to answer questions.
Identifies primary and secondary sources and analyses them to identify their usefulness for the investigation.
Communicates in more than one mode and uses familiar historical terms and concepts.
Acknowledges sources of information and incorporates sources.
Describes different interpretations of past events (a mystery), with reference to specific methods and types of evidence.
Identifies aspects of the mystery and types of evidence.
Uses obvious questions about the past, and locates information from supplied sources.
Describes the content of sources.
Identifies points of view and some features in sources.
Compares evidence in sources to identify different points of view and interprets them to identify their origin and purpose.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Task-specific standards — matrix
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery Name
...© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery Task-specific standards — matrix
Purpose of assessment: To present a multimodal response to a history mystery from the ancient past (between 60 000 BC – c.650 AD) that has challenged historians or archaeologists, and explain the methods and types of evidence that historians use to discover the past.
Task-specific valued features
A B C D E
Understanding and skills Historical Knowledge and Understanding Identifies a history mystery and different interpretations based on methods and types of evidence.
Sections 4 and 5
Comprehensively explains different interpretations of past events (a mystery), with clear links to specific examples of methods and types of evidence
Explains different interpretations of past events (a mystery), with links to specific examples of methods and types of evidence
Describes different interpretations of past events (a mystery), with reference to specific methods and types of evidence
Identifies an interpretation of past events (a
mystery), with some reference to methods and types of evidence
Identifies aspects of the mystery and types of evidence
Historical Skills Questioning and research Develops questions to locate and use evidence in constructing an answer to the mystery.
Poses interrelated questions about the past, and locates and analyses relevant information from a range of sources to answer inquiry questions
Poses logical questions about the past, and locates and analyses relevant information from sources to answer inquiry questions
Poses questions about the past and locates and analyses information from sources to answer questions
Poses questions about the past, and locates information from some sources to answer questions
Uses obvious questions about the past, and locates information from supplied sources
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to draw conclusions about their usefulness.
Sections 2 and 3
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources and draws discriminating conclusions about their usefulness for the investigation
Identifies and analyses primary and secondary sources and analyses them to draw conclusions about their usefulness for the investigation
Identifies primary and secondary sources and analyses them to identify their usefulness for the investigation
Identifies primary and secondary sources and their usefulness for the investigation
Describes the content of sources.
Analysing and interpreting Analyses primary and secondary sources of evidence to explain points of view, and identify the origins and purpose of evidence.
Sections 3,4 and 5
Analyses evidence from sources to explain different points of view and makes discriminating use of them to identify origins and purpose
Compares evidence in sources to explain different points of view and makes considered use of them to identify origins and purpose
Compares evidence in sources to identify different points of view and interprets them to identify their origin and purpose
Identifies different points of view in evidence from sources and examines sources to identify their origins and/or purpose
Identifies points of view in sources and some features in sources
Communicating
Develops and delivers a multimodal presentation using historical terms and concepts, incorporating relevant sources to explain and communicate findings.
Section 5
Communicates clearly, effectively and
convincingly in the chosen modes and uses a range of historical terms and concepts accurately Acknowledges sources of information and
incorporates relevant sources
Communicates effectively in the chosen modes and uses historical terms and concepts
Acknowledges sources of information and
incorporates relevant sources
Communicates in more than one mode and uses familiar historical terms and concepts
Acknowledges sources of information and
incorporates sources
Communicates
information using sources, historical terms and concepts
Incorporates sources
Communicates information using some historical terms and concepts
Incorporates given sources
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Assessment resource
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Historical inquiry process
New learning
• based on theconcepts of historical understanding
Planning
• connect topic to own and others’
prior knowledge and ideas
• identify key concepts, terms, people and events
• sequence key events and developments
• research information on the key inquiry question
Researching
• frame hypothesis
• locate primary and
secondary sources (written, spoken, multimodal)
• develop questions to frame inquiry
• modify inquiry questions as required
Using sources
• gather and organise information from sources
• synthesise information
• evaluate the worth, relevance and reliability of evidence
Communicating
• organise and synthesise ideas
• develop arguments incorporating sources
• plan, edit and revise texts (written, spoken, multimodal)
• acknowledge evidence from sources
Reflecting
• review hypothesis, questions or research
• review sources and evidence
• revisit appropriate inquiry phase
Historical inquiry
Interpreting
• interpret and analyse perspectives
• make decisions about the validity and significance of perspectives
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Assessment resource
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Investigating a history mystery
Below are suggested topics for an investigation of the ancient past (between 60 000 BC – c.650 AD). An overview of each mystery can be found by searching Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki.
Topic A taster to get you thinking!
Terracotta army Why has an ancient Chinese Emperor’s terracotta army been buried underground for centuries?
Nazca lines What is the mystery behind the Nazca lines, an incredible collection of huge images in the desert that were created by the ancient Nazca culture?
Library of Alexandria Were the treasures of the largest and most important library in the ancient world really lost in a massive inferno?
The city of Troy The location of a war over the beautiful Helen of Troy … but why else is this ancient city of interest to historians?
Hanging Gardens of Babylon Did this Wonder of the Ancient World really exist?
Stonehenge An amazing achievement by people who had limited technology, but what is it? A calendar? A religious site? Something built by aliens?
The Mycenaeans Why did this ancient culture disappear?
Moai (Easter Island statues) What secrets do the huge statues that inhabit Easter Island guard?
Colossus of Rhodes What caused the people of Rhodes to build this massive statue?
How did they manage it? Why does it no longer exist?
The crystal skulls Are the crystal skulls human artefacts or natural wonders? Do they have special powers or are they fakes?
Peat bog mummies How have these mummies been so amazingly preserved? What mysteries do they hold?
Tollund man Who was the Tolland man? Why do historians think his was a recent death?
Ötzi How did Ötzi die? What can he tell us about the past?
Tutankhamen How did this young pharaoh die? Was it murder or natural causes?
Lake Mungo What do the discoveries at Lake Mungo of human remains tell us about ancient civilisation?
Bradshaw (Gwion Gwion) cave paintings
What are the origins of these paintings? What do they reveal about ancient civilisation?
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History Sample assessment | Assessment resource
Investigating the ancient past: A history mystery
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) and its licensors 2013. All web links correct at time of publication.
Excerpt of a sample response for Section 4:
Analysing and using sources
Note to teachers: responses will vary. While students may use a range of research tools, the skill of selecting information discerningly for recording should still be present.
Dot point summary of research Source details
How historians know (methods used to find out)
• excavations in late 1800s revealed 4 houses. The remaining structures were excavated between 1928–1930
• radiocarbon dating was carried out in the 1970s on fireplaces, tools and middens
• they analysed middens to identify animal and fish bones, pottery and eggshells
• analysis of the tools found (and their likely purposes)
• comparing tombs to other stone age settlements to determine role of religion
Information about Skara Brae, Heritage of the Orkney
Islands, Skara Brae, www.orkneyjar.com/h istory/skarabrae/inde x.html
Look in this column when making judgments about using a range of relevant sources (e.g. websites, books, class handouts).
Look in this column when making judgments about selecting useful evidence. Researched evidence should be pertinent (e.g. only contain information about archaeological or archival methods for the chosen mystery).
Australian Curriculum Year 7 History
Investigating the ancient past:
A history mystery
Assessment resource: Excerpt of a sample response for Section 4:
Analysing and using sources Complete the table below to identify the most useful primary and secondary sources of
information (a minimum of two) that you have used to investigate the history mystery.
Describe the origin and purpose of the source of information
Identify how the source is useful in answering your inquiry question
Primary source
Actual excavated “house” in the village from 4000 years ago, seen through a 360° virtual tour
This source was useful
because it helped me to find out who the inhabitants were. I could see the layout of the house and draw conclusions about how people lived in the spaces (e.g. different-sized beds may have meant different ranks between males and females).
Primary source
Items found in the middens around the outside of each house (animal bones, egg shells, broken pottery and tools)
This source was useful to understand aspects of their daily life — not only what they ate, but what plants they grew, what animals they kept and what level of technology they used. It gave clues about what changed due to erosion and that the inhabitants had no weapons.
Secondary source
www.orkneyjar.com, which gave information about different ideas as to why the inhabitants left
This source was useful to get a better understanding about what different historians believe might have happened and to help develop my own answer to the inquiry question.
Secondary source
