Fitzroy Gardens
Last week, our Year 4 students travelled to Cook’s Cottage in the Fitzroy Gardens to deepen their understanding of the colonisation of Australia and its impacts on First Nations peoples.
Students stepped back in time to explore the historic cottage, which originally belonged to the parents of Captain James Cook. They were amazed to discover that the entire building was transported by ship from England and rebuilt, almost like Lego, right in the gardens.
While listening to stories about Captain Cook’s journeys, the students shared plenty of laughs during a race to empty a “chamber pot” (don’t worry, it was only filled with tea). They were quite surprised to learn that emptying these pots was traditionally the chore of the youngest child in the family.
Following the cottage tour, the students embarked on a scavenger hunt to locate significant landmarks around Fitzroy Gardens. A major highlight was visiting the Model Tudor Village, where the students felt like giants walking among the miniature houses. They also loved exploring the beautiful floral displays inside the Conservatory.
It was a wonderful day of learning for both students and staff. It was incredibly rewarding to see the children enthusiastically making real-world connections to what they have been studying in the classroom.
