My Government & Me

This unit is based on the Year 6 Australian Curriculum HASS Civics and Citizenships Knowledge and Understandings. This unit is content heavy, but we have tried to lighten it up with some fun activities and interesting presentations. This unit is a great introduction to the political system before a trip to Canberra. It is worth considering doing after our history unit as well, as the stronger a student’s understanding of federation, the easier some concepts will be.

Some of this content will have been covered before, in previous years (levels of government in year 4, voting in year 5) and some of it overlaps with other HASS units you may have done this year (History). While it never hurts to go over something more than once, it might be beneficial to check the understanding of your group and adjust your speed accordingly. There are more activities than there are lessons, so feel free to stretch out the activities, or cut some, as required in your classroom.

8 x 1 hour lessons

Cross curriculum

22x resources/worksheets

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Curriculum content descriptions

Australian Curriculum - (QLD/SA/WA/NT/TAS/ACT)

ACHASSI122

Develop appropriate questions to guide an inquiry about people, events, developments, places, systems and challenges

ACHASSI123

Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources

ACHASSI124

Organise and represent data in a range of formats including tables, graphs and large- and small-scale maps, using discipline-appropriate conventions

ACHASSI127

Examine different viewpoints on actions, events, issues and phenomena in the past and present

ACHASSI128

Interpret data and information displayed in a range of formats to identify, describe and compare distributions, patterns and trends, and to infer relationships

ACHASSI129

Evaluate evidence to draw conclusions

ACHASSI130

Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges

ACHASSI131

Use criteria to make decisions and judgements and consider advantages and disadvantages of preferring one decision over others

ACHASSI132

Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects

ACHASSI133

Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions

ACHASSK134

Key figures, events and ideas that led to Australia’s Federation and Constitution

ACHASSK135

Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children

ACHASSK143

The key institutions of Australia’s democratic system of government and how it is based on the Westminster system

ACHASSK144

The roles and responsibilities of Australia’s three levels of government

ACHASSK145

The responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia’s democracy

ACHASSK146

Where ideas for new laws can come from and how they become law

ACHASSK147

The shared values of Australian citizenship and the formal rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens

ACHASSK148

The obligations citizens may consider they have beyond their own national borders as active and informed global citizens

NSW

HT3-5

Applies a variety of skills of historical inquiry and communication

GE3-4

Acquires, processes and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry

HT3-3

Identifies change and continuity and describes the causes and effects of change on Australian society

HT3-4

Describes and explains the struggles for rights and freedoms in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

HT3-1

Describes and explains the significance of people, groups, places and events to the development of Australia

HT3-2

Describes and explains different experiences of people living in Australia over time

GE3-2

Explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments

VIC

VCGGC088

Collect and record relevant geographical data and information from the field and secondary sources, using ethical protocols

VCGGC089

Represent the location of places and other types of geographical data and information in different forms including diagrams, field sketches and large-scale and small-scale maps that conform to cartographic conventions of border, scale, legend, title, north point and source; using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate

VCGGC090

Interpret maps and other geographical data and information using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate, to develop identifications, descriptions, explanations and conclusions that use geographical terminology

VCHHC083

Identify the origin, content features and the purpose of historical sources and describe the context of these sources when explaining daily life in colonial Australia, reasons for migration and causes and effects of Federation

VCHHK093

The significance of key figures and events that led to Australia’s Federation, including British and American influences on Australia’s system of law and government

VCHHK094

The different experiences and perspectives of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, women, and children

VCCCG008

Discuss the values, principles and institutions that underpin Australia’s democratic forms of government and explain how this system is influenced by the Westminster system

VCCCG009

Describe the roles and responsibilities of the three levels of government, including shared roles and responsibilities within Australia's federal system

VCCCG011

Identify the roles and responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia's democracy

VCCCL012

Explain how state/territory and federal laws are initiated and passed through parliament

VCCCC014

Identify who can be an Australian citizen and describe the rights, responsibilities and shared values of Australian citizenship and explore ways citizens can participate in society

VCCCC017

Examine the concept of global citizenship

Learning Intention

We are learning to understand key figures, events and ideas that led to Australia’s Federation and Constitution.
We are learning to understand the experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including the status and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, migrants, women and children.
We are learning to understand the key institutions of Australia’s democratic system of government and how it is based on the Westminster system.
We are learning to understand the roles and responsibilities of Australia’s three levels of government.
We are learning to understand the responsibilities of electors and representatives in Australia’s democracy.
We are learning to understand where ideas for new laws can come from and how they become law.
We are learning to understand the shared values of Australian citizenship and the formal rights and responsibilities of Australian citizens.
We are learning to understand the obligations citizens may consider they have beyond their own national borders as active and informed global citizens.

Lessons

Lesson 1

How our Government Works

In this lesson, students will learn about the relationship between the federal government and its citizens.

Lesson 2

Where Does our Government Come From?

In this lesson, students will explore the history of our political system and what influenced its creation.

Lesson 3

Where is our Government

In this lesson, students will take a virtual tour of Canberra, learning how and why it was made, and explored some of the areas around the nation's capital.

Lesson 4

Levels of Government

In this lesson, students learn about the three levels of government and how they work together.

Lesson 5

Rights and Responsibilities

In this lesson, students learn about the rights and responsibilities we have as citizens and the rights and responsibilities of the people we elect.

Lesson 6

Where do Laws Come From?

In this lesson, students will explore where laws come from and how they get there.

Lesson 7

Australian Citizenship

In this lesson, students learn all about Australian citizenship, who has it, how they got it and what they can do with it.