Treasure Chest - Collage Panels

By R

This week we made 2 more panels for our treasure chest (see previous post). The children experimented with ways of ageing papers such as ripping, crinkling and brushing with ink. They used all sorts of paper and metallic card  along with fake gemstones to make these panels. Textured wallpaper scraps are particularly good used with an ink pad rubbed over the raised areas (square shapes above, and centre rectangle below).

By L

Graphing Camden

1800s Jobs By R

This week the children have been using information from history books and information they have collected themselves at the cemetery to make these graphs. You can make graphs like this in Excel or use these online websites: Online chart tool and Create a graph.

R went a little further and calculated percentages along with the mean, median and mode for some of his charts. I asked both the children to do some interpretation of their graphs. You can see some things they found out written alongside the chart.

Camden floods by L

Camden 1800's jobs by L

People buried in the graveyard by L

Types of gravestones by L

People buried in the cemetery by R

1800's land grants by R

Describing Camden

This week in writing time the children have been working on descriptions. They each chose their favourite historic Camden building to describe. Can you match the descriptions to the photos above?

By R

By L

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

This past week we have been camping in the pouring rain!

First stop was 2 nights at Dharug National Park near Wisemans Ferry. To get there we had to cross the Hawkesbury River on the car ferry and then set up camp in the rain.

We checked the information board to see what wildlife we might spot before heading out on the Grass Tree Circuit walk. There were quite a disturbing number of snakes living in the park. We least wanted to meet a brown snake but that's exactly what we did see. Luckily it was a juvenile and just slithered off.

The next day it was pouring with torrential rain again. Undeterred we hiked the 9km Old Great North Road World Heritage Walk. Its one of the only sections of original convict road left in Australia. You can download an app from the national parks website with films to watch at points along the way; unfortunately phones don't work that well with buckets of rain poured into them! We made do with the interpretive signs instead. At one point the road is very steep and narrow, amazingly people drove a horse and cart up it before deciding that it really was too treacherous and the convict road builders carved out an alternative route.

Hangman's Rock

We left the national park and headed off to meet friends and find civilisation at Umina Beach where they had water, electricity, flushing toilets and hot showers. Sadly they also had rain. Lots of it. We did manage some time on the beach, in the pool and at the new water park, playground and jumping pillow. Here's a picture that sums up the weather. Kids sheltering by the toilet block, holding their hands over their ears to block out the sound of thunder whilst watching the tents flood with 45mm of rain all dumped down at once.

You've gotta love camping!

Camden Museum

Today we went to Camden Museum to discover a bit more about Camden's history. There are hundreds of objects on show in themed displays including toys, wash day, world wars, farming, fashion and clothing, entertainment, sports, transport, and lots more. The museum is free and is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. Whilst we were there we picked up a kids cultural passport workbook from the library front desk. This resource encourages the children to explore the library and museum and also the public art works on display.

Here are some photos from the day:

Old sewing machine

First fleet ship model

Aboriginal artefacts

Fire-station bell

Camden Heritage Walking Tour

Camden's oldest building  - 1842

Today we took the heritage walking tour around the town of Camden. You can get the brochure at the tourist information centre or download it here. The walk takes you around the town past Camden's oldest buildings, Macarthur Park and several churches. Add on a picnic and some time on the playground and it takes about 2.5 hours.

Macarthur park

This is the fountain that met with a wagon full of human excrement! See previous post.

The old stock sale yards are still being used

Camden's oldest house

The first hospital