New Zealand Society: the Fifties

 

Learning Intentions students are learning to...

• Consider some key events from New Zealand’s past and assess their importance to us today.
• Compare events which have been important in the past to modern events.

Success Criteria how do students know they have achieved the learning intentions?

• In small groups students will have completed concept maps on a number of aspects related to Hillary conquering Everest
• Students will use recent news coverage of Hillary to write about people’s perspectives on Everest, Tangiwai and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Relevant Footage

Disk One
Everest
Tangiwai
Auckland Harbour Bridge

Lesson Outline

• Start by brainstorming what students already know about Hillary and the climbing of Everest. Can they remember anything of the coverage of his funeral?
• Watch the Everest footage. Compare and contrast this footage with news items covering his funeral. What is emphasised in a similar way and what aspects of the coverage are different.
• Either in pairs or in small groups students complete a concept map (Resource Five: Sherpas, Heroes & a Funeral)
  Everest: have attitudes toward Hillary changed since this film was made. Collect footage and extracts which covered his death and funeral. What is similar and what is different to the information seen in this film. (the Role of the Sherpas, The English, the historical context, down to earth reluctant hero)
• Watch Tangiwai:

  1. Find Tangiwai on a map and find trace the path of the Lahar.
  2. What else do students know about Tangiwai?
  3. How has this area been in the news more recently?
  4. What have we learnt from this event and what modern measures have been taken to prevent another disaster?

• Watch The Auckland Harbour Bridge:
  1. What modern day event might this compare to?
  2. How does the footage differ from modern coverage of an event of nation al significance? Students might collect footage of what they believe is an event of similar importance and compare and contrast the style of footage and the nature of the event.
  3. What aspects of 50s culture can we see in this footage?