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Humanities and social sciences / Year 5 / Knowledge and Understanding / Civics and citizenship

Curriculum content descriptions

The key features of the electoral process in Australia (ACHASSK116)

Elaborations
  • exploring the secret ballot and compulsory voting as key features of Australia’s democracy
  • recognising the role of the Australian Electoral Commission in administering elections that are open, free and fair
  • clarifying who has the right to vote and stand for election in Australia
General capabilities
  • Personal and social capability Personal and social capability
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
ScOT terms

Voting rights,  Parliamentarians,  Elections,  Political leaders,  Voting

Text

Electoral pocketbook: an electoral education resource

The 2016 Electoral Pocketbook is a compact and comprehensive guide to the 2016 federal election, the largest election the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has ever delivered. The Pocketbook serves as a useful electoral education resource for teachers as it contains historical information about Australia’s electoral ...

Video

BTN: History of voting

Australia's first parliamentary election was in 1843. What was different about voting then? When and how did that change to resemble elections we have now? See if you can list the three significant dates in Australia’s history of voting and the changes that occurred on those dates.

Online

How do you make a difference?

In this learning sequence, students determine improvements they would like to see in public transport. They research ways of suggesting improvements to public transport authorities and other decision makers, and prepare letters and emails for this purpose. They prioritise future improvements and develop arguments to support ...

Online

Voting in the classroom

This is a learning module that develops practical skills in teaching electoral education as part of the Civics and Citizenship Curriculum. The module includes background information and a step by step guide to running an election. Aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, the module provides one hour ...

Online

Get Voting

This website provides a step-by-step guide to running an school elections such as student leadership positions. The five-step process provides practical advice on preparation and a variety of downloadable resources. The forms can be customised and include nomination forms, ballot papers, how to vote cards and tally sheets ...

Online

Paying It Forward Years 5-6

This is a cross-curricular unit about the values that underpin Australia’s democracy, the freedoms they enjoy and their role and the role of the government as duty bearers of rights. Students learn to appreciate the role of volunteers and Australia’s three levels of government in supporting the community. Students will ...

Video

Get involved

Explore the ways ordinary Australians can get involved in the work of Parliament with this short video (6:25 min). Find out how you can get informed about the work of the Parliament, the role of petitioning and ways to participate in parliamentary inquiries.

Interactive

Quizzes

Test your students with these quizzes about the Australian Parliament. Topics include the three levels of government, separation of powers and the Australian Constitution.

Online

Electoral events timeline

This is a timeline setting out some major dates in Australia's electoral history. It begins in 1835 with the establishment of Australia's first political 'party', the Australian Patriotic Association, in NSW and ends with the granting of self-government to the ACT in 1989. The timeline is supported by a set of focus questions ...

Online

Stories of the people and rulers - unit of work

This is an extended unit of work for the mid-primary years about who should rule. It comes from the 'Discovering democracy' series of units. The unit includes studies of the pharaohs' absolute rule in ancient Egypt and of democracy in ancient Athens, as well as an examination of who rules in Australia and how a nation should ...

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Robert Menzies, prime minister 1939-41, 1949-66

This is a black-and-white photograph of Robert Menzies, Australia's twelfth prime minister. It shows him wearing a suit as he poses for his official photograph.

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State, territory and Australian parliaments

This website is about the parliaments of the states and territories of Australia, as well as the Australian Parliament. It describes the different origins of the colonies and their movement to self-government during the 19th century, and subsequent federation into one nation in 1901. The resource describes the structures, ...

Interactive

Sites2See: The Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples

This resource links to video coverage and key websites related to the apology to Indigenous Australians by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 13 February 2008. Selected sites provide background information to the apology and personal stories about what happened to members of the Stolen Generations, with a focus on reconciliation.

Interactive

Sites2See: Reconciliation

This resource is a one-page guide to the people, processes, information and events around reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians, with links to music, video and digital resources and activities.

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Year 5: roles, responsibilities and participation - Parkhurst apprenticeship scheme

This collection of resource sheets for students and teachers examine the early colonial history of the Swan River Colony in Western Australia. The resources provide scaffolded research activities that focus on the Parkhurst Apprenticeship Scheme that sent indentured youths from England to work in the establishing Australian ...

Online

Giving it: resources for primary schools

This series of resources explores the concept of philanthropy, and considers why and how active citizens participate in communities. Through a series of video case studies students are introduced to a variety of people who give and the contributions they make. An interactive 'Giving Wheel' provide a stimulus for researching ...

Online

Citizenship: Let's talk recognition

This resource (an ‘education pack’) is a 28-page pdf about citizenship learning, how citizenship is shaped by social and cultural forces, and how it relates to Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Beginning with a historical summary and ...

Interactive

An introduction to human rights and responsibilities

This is a unit of work for years 5 and 6 on human rights, the responsibilities that accompany them, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The unit consists of two interactive lessons for students and a teacher lesson plan, also in two parts. The interactive lessons include quizzes, short answer and ...

Online

Australian Civics and Citizenship Curriculum Year 5 unit of work

The eight lessons in this unit of work will help develop students' understanding of democracy and how citizens can participate in a democratic society. It includes two informal assessment items, a formal assessment item with marking rubric, background information for teachers and a list of resources.

Online

Magna Carta: The story of our freedom

This is a resource about the Magna Carta (Great Charter) agreed between King John and his rebellious barons in 1215 and its influence on the development of human rights and democratic freedoms to the present day. The resource consists of: an animated infographic ‘Tell the story’ with hyperlinks to further information; an ...