Significant People of Rottnest Island – Classroom Display Posters – Differentiated

This classroom display poster set explores the lives and impacts of significant people connected to Rottnest Island (Wadjemup), helping students understand the island’s role in Australia’s colonial past.

Through carefully selected historical figures, the posters encourage students to examine perspectives from the colonial period, including leadership, settlement, and the experiences of Aboriginal people during this time.

Aligned with The Australian Curriculum: HASS – The Australian Colonies, these posters support students in investigating key people, events and developments of Australia’s colonial era, as well as their short- and long-term impacts. The resource promotes historical inquiry, critical thinking, and discussion about continuity, change and historical significance, making it suitable for Year 4 to Year 7 classrooms.

The resource includes two complementary poster sets to support differentiation and varied classroom use:

Set 1: More detailed written text with fewer graphics – ideal for older students, close reading, and deeper historical analysis.
Set 2: Less detailed text with a stronger visual focus – ideal for younger students, visual learners, and introductory learning.

Ways to use these posters in the classroom include:
Classroom displays to build background knowledge and immerse students in the topic throughout a unit on Australian colonisation.
Guided reading and inquiry stations, where students analyse information, identify key facts, and discuss the roles and impacts of significant individuals.
Small-group rotations, with students comparing figures, timelines, and perspectives across the posters.
Discussion prompts and visual anchors to support whole-class conversations, questioning, and critical thinking.
Assessment support, where students use the posters as reference points for written responses, research tasks, or oral presentations.

Other Rottnest Island resources have been created and can be found in my store.