Homeschool → Australia → Year 4 → History
Year 4 history
In Year 4, learners investigate the long history of First Nations Australians and the first contacts between them and European voyagers. They study European voyages of exploration, the arrival of the First Fleet and the effects of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, using sources to see events from more than one perspective. In the Australian Curriculum v9.0 this learning sits within the HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) learning area.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Historical knowledge and understanding
- First Nations Australia before 1788Topic outlineLearners explore the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Countries, languages, economies and trade before British colonisation, using information from First Nations sources.
- European voyages to AustraliaFull lesson · 45 minLearners study the Dutch, British and French voyages that reached the Australian continent between 1606 and 1788 and place them on a timeline.
- The First Fleet and the colony at Sydney CoveFull lesson · 45 minLearners investigate why Britain sent the First Fleet, the journey, the people on board and the first years of the colony at Sydney Cove on Gadigal Country.
- Effects of colonisation on First Nations peoplesTopic outlineLearners examine how colonisation affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including loss of land, disease and conflict, as well as resistance and survival.