Lustre: Education

Caption: Saltwater Cowboys

Caption: Saltwater Cowboys
Credit: WA Museum MHD 319_114

Lustre: Pearling & Australia explores the human story of pearling, weaving together intersecting trends of Aboriginal, Asian, and European histories to reveal insights into one of our oldest industries.

This exhibition tells the unique Australian story of the pearl shell. It reveals the natural world, the traditions of Aboriginal Australians who have harvested pearl shell for over 20,000 years, and the complex and enduring relationships of the people who made and defined the pearling industry.

Pearling’s colonial history is harsh and characterised by the exploitation of cheap Aboriginal and Asian labour. This gritty history is counterbalanced by the power of tradition, and the sheer beauty of shell and pearl.

This is a free exhibition and education groups are welcome. To book a visit call (08) 9431 8393.

Education Resource & Curriculum Links

Download our free Lustre education resource. It includes:

  • Suggestions for activities during and after the excursion
  • Templates for student use
  • A selection of source analysis questions that can be completed as a standalone activity

Download the Resource

The resource is designed to support the Australian Curriculum, particularly for History in years 5 and 6. However, the exhibition themes and content lend themselves to other learning areas and year levels:

HASS (History)

Year

Curriculum Link

5

  • The reasons people migrated to Australia from Europe and Asia, and the experiences and contributions of a particular migrant group within a colony.

  • The role that a significant individual or group played in shaping a colony.

6

  • Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children.

  • Stories of groups of people who migrated to Australia since Federation (including from ONE country of the Asia region) and reasons they migrated.

  • The contribution of individuals and groups to the development of Australian society since Federation.

9

Making a better world (Movement of Peoples 1750 - 1901)

  • Changes in the way of life of a group(s) of people who moved to Australia in this period, such as free settlers on the frontier in Australia.

Making a nation

  • The extension of settlement, including the effects of contact (intended and unintended) between European settlers in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

  • The experiences of non-Europeans in Australia prior to the 1900s (such as the Japanese, Chinese, South Sea Islanders, Afghans).

The Arts (Visual Arts)

Year

Curriculum Link

5
  • Explain how visual arts conventions communicate meaning by comparing artworks from different social, cultural and historical contexts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks.
6
  • Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children.
  • Stories of groups of people who migrated to Australia since Federation (including from ONE country of the Asia region) and reasons they migrated.
9

Making a better world (Movement of Peoples 1750 - 1901)

  • Changes in the way of life of a group(s) of people who moved to Australia in this period, such as free settlers on the frontier in Australia.

Making a nation

  • The extension of settlement, including the effects of contact (intended and unintended) between European settlers in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • The experiences of non-Europeans in Australia prior to the 1900s (such as the Japanese, Chinese, South Sea Islanders, Afghans).
  • Living and working conditions in Australia around the turn of the twentieth century (that is 1900)

Science (Science as a Human Endeavour)

Year

Curriculum Link

5-6

Use and influence of science

  • Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions.
7-8

Use and influence of science

  • People use science understanding and skills in their occupations and these have influenced the development of practices in areas of human activity.

Technologies (Design and Technologies)

Year

Curriculum Link

5-6
  • Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and evaluate the impact of their use.
7-8
  • Investigate the ways in which products, services and environments evolve locally, regionally and globally and how competing factors including social, ethical and sustainability considerations are prioritised in the development of technologies and designed solutions for preferred futures.
9-10
  • Explain how products, services and environments evolve with consideration of preferred futures and the impact of emerging technologies on design decisions.

Other Resources

Online Text Panels

The online text panels are a valuable resource for students. This feature includes text and images from exhibition panels used in the Lustre: Pearling & Australia exhibition. The panels are based on the version of the exhibition that was on show at WA Maritime Museum in 2015.

Lustre online text panels


Audio Guide

Students can use their own mobile device and Lustre's online audio guide to enjoy a guided walkthrough of the exhibition.

To access the audio guide simply follow the button below and select the corresponding number while in the exhibition. 
 

Lustre audio guide


Publication

Lustre Book Cover

Covering the exhibition content, including high-res photography, this publication is available from the Museum's shop or it can be purchased online.

Purchase the book online


Marvellous Molluscs - Activities from the Museum of Geraldton

Marvellous Mollusc Activities

Shells have been around for over 500 million years. Today we see a wide variety on the beach but what mollusc animals are responsible for making these amazing shell structures, including some that have the beautiful, lustrous mother of pearl?

Discover what these marvellous mollusc animals are through a delightful range of playful hands-on activities for children and their families.

Marvellous Molluscs Activities