Victorian Stories discovery trail for primary schools

The Victorian Stories discovery trail is a self-guided program designed to give Years 3–6 students an introduction to the permanent exhibitions on display at the Immigration Museum. 

Pre and post visit resources are available online.

For teachers

Please acquaint yourself with the contents of the galleries before arriving at the museum.

MV Teachers subscription provides free entry to the museum and you are welcome to visit and scope your excursion prior to your class visit.

You may want to create your own activity program based on the details below, or use the activities on the following pages.

Please feel free to contact the Humanities Education Programs Coordinator via Bookings and Enquiries (03) 9927 2754.
 

First Floor gallery map

Your excursion will focus on the following galleries on the first floor.

  

Gallery and exhibition details

Leaving Home
Using sound, objects, still and moving images we explore the reasons why people left their countries to come to Australia and what they brought with them. Find out more

Immigrant Stories and Timeline
This gallery explores why people have migrated to Victoria, where they settled and how they started a new life here. The stories change annually and represent a diverse array of time periods, motivations and cultural backgrounds. Some feature Museum Victoria collections, others have been developed through partnerships with families and communities. Find out more

Customs Gallery
The Immigration Museum occupies the Old Customs House, one of Melbourne's most important 19th-century public buildings. For over a century the Customs House was the focal point for Victoria's trade and shipping. Find out more

Getting In
Since the 1800s, various immigration policies have dictated who gets in. This exhibition shows how and why our immigration policies have changed. Find out more
 

Suggested activities

Activity 1 - See Think Wonder (Years 3-6)

In the museum

Use the See, Think, Wonder strategy and have students spend 10 minutes in each gallery space.

Download or create a template for students to use and ask them to respond to either an object or an exhibit in each of the four galleries.

Back at school

Once you return to class have students share their observations with others either focusing on one particular gallery at a time or across the entire four galleries at once.
   

Activity 2 - Small Object Trail (Years 5-6)

In the museum

Provide students with a 4-page booklet and set the following task.

Choose one object in each gallery. 

Draw or photograph the object. 

Answer the following questions:

• What is it made of?
• Where was it made?
• Who did the object belong to?
• Why is this object in the museum exhibition?

Back at school

Ask students to create a small exhibition of their drawings/photographs and discuss what they discovered from the objects on display

Curriculum links

• Humanities
• Intercultural Capability