Sixty-Five Thousand Years of Home
🎯 Today's mission briefing
We are learning how archaeologists know that First Nations Australians have been connected to this continent for at least 65,000 years, and why 'many Nations, many cultures' is the accurate picture — then and now.
You'll know you've got it when:
- I can explain what deep time means and use a scale model to show how long 65,000 years really is
- I can describe two kinds of evidence archaeologists use, and one thing that evidence tells us
- I can explain that Australia has always been home to hundreds of different First Nations, each with their own Country, languages and cultures — living and continuing today
The longest story on Earth
Connects to what your guest already knows and makes them curious. Activating prior knowledge is one of the strongest predictors of new learning.
Grab a metre of string, a ruler, or picture your outstretched arms — about one metre fingertip to fingertip. Let that whole metre stand for the human story of Australia: at least 65,000 years of people living, trading, telling stories and caring for this land. Now, where on your string does 1788 sit — the year the First Fleet arrived? Have a guess. Halfway? A quarter from the end? Hold that guess: today you'll do the maths, and the answer is going to make your jaw drop.