Year 5 struck gold last week when they travelled up to Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. Confectionery making, gold pouring, a tour of a mineshaft and the opportunity to role play historical gold miners was on offer. We even got to experience the weather of the time – wet, soggy and freezing! But, much like the prospectors of the Gold Rush, this didn’t dull our shining spirits. 

After we found our fortunes on the goldfields, Year 5 arrived at Camp Sunnystones for three days immersed in nature. This included a scenic two hour bushwalk, competitive hut building (with some huts belonging to teachers almost being flooded), geocaching, archery, rock climbing and low ropes. Year 5 even put their survival skills to the test when they entered the food chain of the mountains, working as a team to hunt down those lower in the chain.

The highlight of the trip was without a doubt the brilliant sound and light night show at Sovereign Hill. This brought the Gold Rush alive right before our eyes before burning it all down in the name of the Eureka Rebellion.

We returned exhausted but elated by our time in the bush. Year 5 is looking forward to using all our experiences in our historical fiction stories.

Taryn Stark and Gideon Sharp

Year 5 Teachers