Why All Year 6 Students Should Visit Our Nation’s Capital City

MLC School has an extensive program to prepare girls for their transition to Senior School. The recent Year 6 excursion to Canberra covered an important unit of work – here is a perspective from the Year 6 Class. 

Have you ever wondered what Canberra has in store for you? Travelling to Canberra with your peers provides opportunities to have enormous amounts of fun while learning. The many tourist attractions will educate you about the city of Canberra, our nation’s history and democracy. There are also opportunities to learn about Australian currency, Aboriginal art and culture, as well as scientific discoveries in Australia. There is certainly a lot to learn!

On the first day, we went to Weereewa Lookout and spotted Lake George, an endorheic basin lake. This lake’s fascinating feature is how water sometimes completely ‘disappears’. When we arrived, the lake was not filled but the grass seemed damp. Year 6 learnt a lot about lakes, especially after our tour guide, Dan, spoke with us.

At Parliament House, you can go into the Senate and the House of Representatives, and learn about how laws are made in our country. Students can also learn about the various roles in parliament and how to vote. We even did some role play.

The Mint is an excellent place to learn about the history of Australia’s coins and one of the most important places in Australia. It is great to go and see where the amazing coin making happens. You are able to actually see the coins being made for us to use. But the coin making isn’t the only great thing there – the tour guides are very friendly and have a great sense of humour, making the experience more fun for students and visiting tourists. There are also many amazing souvenirs to take home and cherish forever so that you remember your great experience at the Mint.

Canberra is the perfect place for Year 6 students to go. Some other examples of fun places to visit are the Australia Institute of Sport (AIS) and Questacon. It is a great to benefit from the tour guides’ expertise when you visit the museums. There are many exhibits to learn from, and the guides share their knowledge and experiences of working there. The guides helped us understand the information so much better than just reading facts on the internet. This is why it is preferable to go to a museum in person – because not only does it provide information but there are experienced tour guides to help out and you have the chance to ask questions.

The Australian War Memorial was a sad but informative visit. We learnt a lot about the animals and people who have served in wars. We were given a tour of the entire Memorial and also had an amazing tour guide who told us stories and answered all of our questions. One of the best parts was when we went into the ‘Hall of Remembrance’ and saw the tomb of the unknown Australian soldier. That one Australian soldier represents every single person listed on the ‘Wall of Names’. The whole experience, from the stories to the real size planes, is one I would do again in a heartbeat.

Improving self-management and social skills is also very important. In Canberra, there are many experiences that develop these skills and encourage strong, independent young people. Being brave and cooperative is very important when on a school trip and away from the comforts of home. The collaborative learning opportunities also help students interact with their classmates. A trip to Canberra is a great way to socialise and have lots of fun while learning important social skills and developing independence.

In conclusion, students learn lots of valuable information about Australian history in Canberra. They are able to collect information from interactive, primary sources and thoroughly enjoy themselves in the process. Travelling to the nation’s capital with classmates enhances their social capabilities and helps them to become more independent. That is why all Year 6 students should have the opportunity to travel to the nation’s Capital City.

– Class 6W

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