about our educational programs
Q Station offers a diverse range of stimulating and interactive education programs for primary, secondary and tertiary students. Created to challenge students to learn from history so that they can make informed decisions in the present and for the future, our programs, which make the most of the incredible setting of the historical Quarantine Station, engage students to make history relevant to them today. The programs offer teachers a resource to complement the key learning areas of English, HSIE, PDHPE, Drama, History, and Biology.
Each program includes a comprehensive Teachers Resource Kit with:
- Suggested pre visit and post visit activities
- Explicit Outcomes and links to Key Learning Areas
- Outline of the experience components
- Overview of the history of the Quarantine Station
- A bibliography and a list of suggested resources
- Primary source material booklet and worksheets for students to photocopy
For more information or bookings call (02) 9466 1500 and ask to speak to our Education Coordinator at ext 318 or email her at education@qstation.com.au or view the information on this website.
Many of our programs may be extended to full day programs for an additional fee per student.
School Holiday Programs are also available for Vacation Care Centres.
Kids in Quarantine
Kids in quarantine takes students on a walking adventure through the Quarantine Station. Students compare the past with the present as they adopt a persona of a first, second or third class passenger. Using these personas students begin at the wharf where they visit the steam ship cabins in our Visitor Centre, they then follow the route taken by passengers when quarantined. At each location students are involved in an activity that allows them to compare what life was like 100 years ago to today and are challenged to think about what they would like the world to be like tomorrow.
Buildings visited include the Shower Block, Autoclaves, Hospital, Morgue, Steerage Precinct and Third Class Dining Room.
Download the Teachers kit [pdf]
details
- Suitable for Stages 1 & 2
- Subject area HSIE & Science
- Duration 2 hours
- Minimum students 25
- Maximum students 80
- Price per student $15 - new price for 2009! $4 less than last year!
ghost boy
Inspired by the book of the same name written by Felicity Pulman, the Ghost Boy tour brings the book to life.
Ghost Boy takes students on a journey through the Quarantine Station during which they learn first-hand about the differences between Tad's world of the 1880s smallpox epidemic, and their own world, through the character of Froggy, as he comes in contact with the ghost of his ancestor at the Quarantine Station.
Students visit the key locations discussed in the book and participate in a number of activities through which they are challenged to think about how things have changed from Tad's time to their own, reflecting on issues of multiculturalism, class definition and medical approaches.
Download the Teachers kit [pdf]
Click on the book to go to Felicity Pulman's website
details
- Suitable for Stages 2 & 3
- Subject area HSIE, English & PDHPE
- Duration 2 hours
- Minimum students 20
- Maximum students 100
- Price per student $15
40 days for schools
The original length of time people were quarantined was 40 days. Our 40 Days interactive experience asks the question, 'What would happen if you were quarantined tomorrow?'
40 Days is like a board game that covers the whole of our incredible site. Focusing on the period of 1918, the busiest period in the Quarantine Station's history, when it was confronted with the epidemic of Spanish Influenza, students participate in a number of site-specific interactives to explore the quarantine processes undertaken by the passengers of the steamship Niagara. Each student is given an identity of a former passenger from the Niagara or a member of the Station's staff. It is through this perspective that they explore the site and its history.
Students are then presented with a contemporary health scenario and, reflecting on their experience as a quarantined internee, are challenged to consider the question 'what would you do?'
This program allows a direct comparison between medical technologies of 1918 and the present; students consider the evolution in communication technologies; reflect on the changing issues of class and race; and contemplate the differences in freedoms expected by citizens today, all whilst flexing their dramatic abilities.
Download the Stage 3 Teachers kit [pdf]
Download the Stage 4 Teachers kit [pdf]
details
- Suitable for Stages 3, 4 & 5
- Subject area HSIE, PDHPE, Science, Drama, History
- Duration 2 hours
- Minimum students 24
- Maximum students 80
- Price per student $20
quarantine station site study
By observing the built and natural environments, and examining historical photographs, maps, primary and secondary source documents, students are challenged to put their skills of observation and analyses to work to explore the way the Quarantine Station has changed from days of Aboriginal occupation to the present. The program gives students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the history of the site in context of the history of Sydney and the political, scientific and social developments of Australia.
This program can be run as a full-day experience. Please contact our education coordinator if you are interested in learning more about this option!
Download the Stage 5 Teachers kit [pdf]
details
- Suitable for Stage 5
- Subject area HSIE
- Duration 2.5 hours
- Minimum students 24
- Maximum students 80
- Price per student $15
the search for better health
available for Term 2 2009
The Search for Better Health is an education program that has been designed to assist in the teaching of the HSC Biology unit 'Search for Better Health'. Using the Quarantine Station as a case study, students are given the opportunity to further their understanding of the causes of disease and investigate advances in medical technology as reflected in the Stations facilities.
Download the Teachers kit [pdf]
details
- Suitable for Stage 6
- Subject area HSC Biology
- Duration 2 hours
- Minimum students 20
- Maximum students 100
- Price per student $15
quarantine station unwrapped
Quarantine Station Unwrapped is an investigation of the Station's historical layers from an archaeological perspective. Students undertake a site tour during which they are introduced to a variety of archaeological resources at the Station ranging from the inscriptions on the sandstone escarpment in the wharf precinct to moveable heritage collection, standing buildings, demolished buildings and landscape features. Throughout their walk guide lead walk students explore how these archaeological resources are being conserved, adapted, used or interpreted.
At the end of the walk students are challenged to come up with their own archaeological questions and devise their own investigation to be answered with the sources provided to them.
This program can be adapted for students from Stage 1 through to Stage 6, please contact our Education Coordinator for more information.
details
- Suitable for Stages 1-6
- Subject area History
- Duration 2 hours
- Minimum students 20
- Maximum students 50
- Price per student $20
information to know before your visit
open access
The public have free access to the wharf precinct and public beach: access to all other areas on-site require accompaniment of qstation staff. We encourage school groups to spend some time before or after the tour exploring the wharf precinct, including the historical exhibit in the visitor centre, and playing on the beach or on the former recreation reserve behind the laundry. If you would like to do so, please let us know so that we can help facilitate your visit.
ratio
To insure safety, management and an overall quality educational experience, we ask that school groups maintain a ratio of two supervising adults per 24 students. 24 students is the maximum number for any one guide, unless arranged beforehand with the education coordinator. Minimum number for education programs is generally 10 students. If you have fewer students, please contact us to make arrangements.
site safety
The Quarantine Station is a National Park. While all attempts have been made to secure the safety of visitors to the site, it remains, essentially, a natural environment. All educational programs and activities take place outdoors and require walking up and down some reasonably steep hills (200 metres) on sealed and unsealed surfaces. All visitors should come prepared with sufficient water, and wearing appropriate clothing, sunscreen, hats, and close-toed shoes.
disabled access
Some of the site is accessible by wheelchair but not all of it. Disabled toilets are available but not all toilets onsite are wheelchair accessible. Please indicate on your booking form if you have any students with special needs.
transportation
We may provide transportation via our shuttle bus into and out of the site before and/or after the tour to facilitate effective movement of visitors but this is not a guarantee and you should expect to walk in and out with your students unless you've made prior arrangements.
coach parking
There is NO provision for coaches to drive in, park, or turn around within Quarantine Station grounds. Coaches must drop students off at the round-about at the entrance, then proceed to the North Head and park at the Coach Parking facilities located there. Note that the gates to the North Head close at 10PM and there is a fine to have them opened after hours. Please inform your coach driver of these conditions before arriving at the site to facilitate a safe drop-off of the students.
food & beverage
Our Visitor Centre sells cold drinks and ice cream Wednesday thru Sunday, and the Boilerhouse Restaurant provides sit-down meals and take-away coffees. Otherwise, there are no outlets for the purchase of food or drink nearby. Please let us know if you would like a package of an educational program with morning tea or a light take-away lunch for teachers and/or students. Otherwise, visitors should come prepared with food and water.
terms & conditions
While we make every effort to insure consistency and accuracy across all of our educational tour programs, we reserve the right to substitute, alter or vary the content and the buildings visited. We will inform you of this at the time of your tour.