Australian Curriculum links

Learning areas

History

Year 3

• The role that people of diverse backgrounds have played in the development and character of the local community. (ACHHK062)
• Days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia (including Australia Day, Anzac Day, Harmony Week, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC week and National Sorry Day) and the importance of symbols and emblems. (ACHHK063)
• Celebrations and commemorations in other places around the world; for example, Bastille Day in France, Independence Day in the USA, including those that are observed in Australia such as Chinese New Year, Christmas Day, Diwali, Easter, Hanukkah, the Moon Festival and Ramadan (ACHHK064)
• Pose a range of questions about the past. (ACHHS067)
• Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies. (ACHHS071)

Year 4

• The diversity and longevity of Australia's first peoples and the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are connected to Country and Place (land, sea, waterways and skies) and the implications for their daily lives. (ACHHK077)
• Locate relevant information from sources provided. (ACHHS084)
• Identify different points of view. (ACHHS085)
• Develop texts, particularly narratives. (ACHHS086)

English

Year 3

• Draw connections between personal experiences and the worlds of texts, and share responses with others. (ACELT1596)

Year 4

• Interpret ideas and information in spoken texts and listen for key points in order to carry out tasks and use information to share and extend ideas and information. (ACELY1687)

General capabilities

• Literacy
• Information and communication technology capability
• Critical and creative thinking
• Intercultural understanding

Activity 1: Celebrate!

Preparation

• Ask children to bring photos of or items representing special personal or family events or places.

Share family photos in small groups and describe:

• What is the celebration or place shown?
• Why is this a special event or place?

Discuss, as a group:

• What events are special to the group? What makes them special? How are they celebrated?
• What places are special to the group? What makes them special? How might they be protected?

Share as a whole class and classify events and places into similar types.

Discuss:

• How does my family impact on my identity?
• How does my cultural background impact on my identity?
• How has my identity changed as I have got older?

Activity 2: Cultural and national celebrations

Preparation

• Collect items that are used in celebrations to create a mystery bag. Examples may include: invitations, candles, red lantern, mask or costume, present, photographs of celebrations.
• Images shown in the body of this activity
• Picture books about celebrations such as What Will You Be, Sara Mee? by Kate Aver Avraham; A New Year's Reunion by Yu Li Qiong; Grandad's Medals by Tracy Duncan; An African Christmas by Ifeoma Onyefulu; Come to the Party Collection (Chinese Festivals, Malay Muslim Festivals, Indian Hindu Festivals) by Suzanne Lauridsen
• Ramadan clip
• Celebrations! by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley
• Access to the internet

Play a game such as pass the parcel with the bag of objects.
Share and discuss what you think the item may be used for or where you might see it.
Use questions such as:

• When do you think this item may be used?
• Why might this be important to someone?
• Does your family have anything similar to this?

Examine photos about celebrations and discuss what is happening.

• What is special about each of the celebrations?
• Why is this event celebrated?
• How is this event celebrated? (For example, public holiday, public parade, family events, etc.)
• When and why do you think we started celebrating each special day?
• How do these days give us clues about Australia or the country's history?

Activity 3: Heritage

Introduce the term heritage. 

Australia's heritage is 'all the things that make up Australia's identity – our spirit and ingenuity, our historic buildings, and our unique, living landscapes. Our heritage is a legacy from our past, a living, integral part of life today, and the stories and places we pass on to future generations.'
Australian Government

Watch the video Sonny Seacombe – Jardwadjali Man 

Discuss:

• What does Sonny value that was passed onto him from his parents and grandparents?
• How important is culture to Sonny?
• How important is identity to Sonny?
• Why are land and locations important to particular people and cultures?
• Why is it important that family stories are passed on from one generation to another?

Consider your family's heritage, culture and special places. In preparation of creating a video about your identity, culture and heritage, you'll need to devise some questions to ask your parents, grandparents or family members.

Create a list of five questions for two or more family members to find out more about your cultural heritage. Questions may include:

• Is there an item or place that is special for our family?
• What is a story that was passed on to you that our family should value?
• What celebrations are historically important to our family?
• How is cultural heritage important to you?
• What elements of your culture do you most strongly value?

Prepare a script for your video. Then, using a digital device or camera, have a friend film you while you talk about your identity and cultural heritage.

Edit your video using a tool such as Movie Maker or iMovie.

Present your video to your class.