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Capturing Convict Thought

• Who were the convicts? 

• Explain what life would have been like for you if you 

were a convict on the First Fleet?

• How would you feel? Why would you feel that way?

• What would you write in a letter to your family back 

home?

You will need to pretend you are a convict aboard 

a ship in the First Fleet in 1788 and you are 

writing to your families back home about your 

experiences.

In assigned groups each day you will be working 

on writing letters using the correct structure and 

language features of a letter. 

By the end of week 9, you will have written a 

letter and in your groups you will have uploaded 

your letters onto StoryJumper. Your StoryJumper 

site will also include a mind map of ideas on what 

you could write about. 

1. Write a letter

2. Publish letter on StoryJumper

3. Add a mind map to your book about what 

you could write about

4. Take a photo of your letter and upload onto 

StoryJumper

561 Whippet Street

Melbourne, Vic 3000

Monday 20th November 1788

Dear Joe,

I can’t believe it has been an extremely long time since we have seen each 

other. I regret that I visited you for only a short period time over the Christmas 

break. I was hoping to visit you when I came home for Mum’s 45th birthday but 

my boss wouldn't give me time off work. I do hope to be in Melbourne later this 

month. Hopefully we can spend some time together as I cannot wait to fill you 

in on everything that’s going on in my life. 

At first I was nervous and stressed about moving but I’m so glad that you 

encouraged me to move to the big smoke. I am following my dreams and I am 

now a professional dancer. Things are going great and I am truly enjoying what 

I’m doing for the first time in years. I sincerely appreciate receiving all of your 

phone calls, letters and all of your continued encouragement. Thanks for 

believing in me when I did not believe in myself.

Yours always,

Mary Smith

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