Here is the Convict Shirt National Treasure.

FOCUS QUESTION

What does this object help me understand about Australian history and heritage?

IDENTIFYING THE OBJECT

1. Describe the object. (Comment on such aspects as its size, use, age, condition.)

FORMING HYPOTHESES

2. This object is important because it is associated with the earliest purpose of Australia, as a jail.

What do you think the object helps us to understand about:

• our national identity
• our national origins
• the nature of early colonial society and economy
• change over time?
  

FINDING OUT MORE

3. Imagine you had to write a short paragraph describing the object and its significance to an overseas visitor. List three things that you would need to find out about in order to create that description.

You will get extra information about this object from the video clip, and the Warren Brown cartoon of it.

COMING TO CONCLUSIONS

4. Now write that short paragraph for your overseas visitor.

ADDING TO NATIONAL TREASURES

5. Imagine that you could add any one object relating to convict society to a ‘National Treasures' list. What would that object be?

Explain and justify your choice.