Gifted History Challenge

History challenge

On Wednesday 27 July 2005 Newington hosted students from MLC, Scots College, Moriah College and International Grammar School for a series of intellectual challenges that tested their Historical knowledge and skills. The students were placed into groups that mixed the school students. It was a wonderful opportunity for gifted students to meet each other and cooperate in activities. From Year 7 Michael Ouzas, Martin Cheung, Matt Self and Clinton Tedja participated. The Year 8 boys were Alex Reid, Ben Adler, Mert Korkusuz and Daniel Latif.

The activities were varied. The students had to think laterally to decipher evidence from archaeological sites. Each group was also given an object that had been "discovered during an archaeological dig on Earth in the year 3000 AD". The objects included such things as: a piece of a Rubik's cube, a scouring pad, a broken pair of scissors, a kiwi fruit spoon etc. The challenge for each group was to give a speech to the Ancient History Department on Mars in the year 3000 about what this object indicated about the civilization that had created it.

Time lines challenged the groups. They also had to find the historical flaws in extracts from Hollywood films and have their general knowledge tested by 'Who Am I?' questions. Another challenge was to design a museum exhibit that would educate future generations about life in Sydney in the early 21st Century.

This was the first Challenge Day that Newington has held and was a great success. Later in the year another Challenge Day will be held for Maths/Science/Technology.