The First Fleet departs
Students interpret the feelings of convicts as they prepare for their voyage to New South Wales.
This is the student activity 1 of 7 of the Journey of the First Fleet learning activity.
Preparing to leave
A lot of planning and preparation was necessary before the First Fleet could sail around the world to a land that nobody onboard had ever seen. The British government collected supplies and equipment not only for the long ocean journey, but also for establishing a colony. The process took years before it was finally time to leave.
Look at the extract from a drawing of convicts in England getting into a small row boat on their way to board the ships that will transport them to Australia. This drawing was done in 1790 but it depicts a similar scene to those that took place in 1787. Notice the six convicts in the middle part of the boat, while a redcoat soldier to the left pushes two more convicts into the boat. To the right the skipper of the boat is leaning on the tiller. Remember that convicts were sentenced to transportation for 7 years, 14 years or for life!
On the back of the framed drawing somebody has glued a printed description of it, and it describes the convicts as having:
a most woe-begone and bedraggled appearance
Define the words woe-begone and bedraggled.
Look at the close-ups, below, of some of the convicts’ faces.
Describe the facial expressions of the convicts in the boat.
Answer these questions:
- What do you think the convicts were thinking?
- What do you think they were feeling?
- What do you think they would miss the most?
Write a conversation being spoken by convicts in the boat. Imagine what they are saying to each other. Record it with sound effects. Play it to the class whilst looking at the drawing